Sri Lanka stocks close 0.2-pct higher

Apr 23, 2013 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's stocks closed up 0.19 percent helped by foreign buying into banking and beverages firms, brokers said. John Keells Holdings closed at 248.90 up 90 cents, Dialog Axiata closed at 9.30 up 0.10 rupees and Ceylon Tobacco closed up 1.90 rupees at 801.90.

Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka closed at 169.00 rupees up 2.60 rupees. The benchmark Colombo All Share Index closed 11.09 points higher at 5,883.52, up 0.19 percent and the S&P SL 20 Index closed 6.47 points higher at 3,344.85 points up 0.19 percent.

Turnover was 708 million rupees.

Foreign investors were buying into Commercial Bank, HNB and Lion Brewery, brokers said.

Commercial Bank closed flat at 113.00, Hatton National Bank closed at 167.20 down 1.90 rupees and Lion Brewery Ceylon gained 19.10 rupees to close at 354.10 rupees.

Asiri Hospitals rose 1.60 rupees to close at 14.10rupees and Aitken Spence rose 4.00 rupees to close at 124.00 contributing most to the index gain, Colombo Stock Exchange data showed.

DFCC closed at 144.70 up 0.20 rupees. Sampath Bank closed at 213.40 rupees up 1.80 rupees.

Nestle Lanka closed at 1770.00 rupees up 0.40 rupees.