Sri Lanka stocks close down 0.5-pct

Feb 18, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka stocks close 0.57 percent lower for the forth consecutive day with tobacco and diversified stocks losing ground amid net foreign selling, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 34.45 points lower at 6,021.66, down 0.57 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 18.20 points lower at 3,288.04, down 0.55 percent.

Turnover was 604.12 million rupees, down from 613.42 million rupees a day earlier, with stocks of 122 firms closing in the red against 52 gainers.

Dialog closed flat at 9.20 rupees with 110.40 million rupees of off market transactions contributing to 18 percent of the daily turnover.

JKHâ€™s W0022 warrants closed 60 cents lower at 60.00 rupees and its W0023 warrants closed 1.30 rupees lower at 60.70 rupees, attracting most number of trades during the day.

Foreigners bought 44.84 million rupees worth shares while selling 274.37 million rupees of shares.

Ceylon Tobacco Company closed 30.30 rupees lower at 1,209.70 rupees and Distilleries closed 7.10 rupees lower at 208.00 rupees, contributing most to the index drop.

JKH closed 1.50 rupees lower at 218.40 rupees and Bukit Darah ended 2.70 rupees lower at 592.30 rupees.

Commercial Leasing and Finance closed 10 cents higher at 4.20 rupees and Ceylinco Insurance closed 19.00 rupees higher at 1,346.00 rupees.

Aitken Spence closed 90 cents higher at 101.00 rupees and Nestle Lanka ended flat at 2,100.00 rupees.

Carson Cumberbatch ended flat at 350.00 rupees and Cargills Ceylon also closed flat at 135.00 rupees.