Sri Lanka stocks close down 0.5-pct

Feb 10, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka shares end 0.51 percent down Monday with tobacco and telco stocks losing ground amid net foreign selling, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 31.45 points lower at 6,110.27, down 0.51 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 14.87 points lower at 3,354.43, down 0.44 percent.

Turnover was 1.32 billion rupees, up from 1.28 billion rupees last Friday, with stocks of 157 firms closing in the red against 52 gainers.

JKH closed 50 cents lower at 228.90 rupees with 494.33 million rupees of two off market transactions contributing to 37 percent of the turnover.

The aggregate value of all off market deals accounted for 56 percent of the daily market turnover.

JKHâ€™s W0022 warrants closed 1.90 rupees lower at 64.40 rupees and its W0023 warrants closed 2.70 rupees lower at 67.00 rupees, attracting most number of trades during the day.

Foreigners bought 180.98 million rupees worth shares while selling 482.71 million rupees of shares.

Dialog ended 20 cents lower at 9.20 rupees and Ceylon Tobacco Company closed 5.40 rupees lower at 1,247.00 rupees, contributing most to the index drop.

DFCC ended 3.70 rupees lower at 146.00 rupees and Bukit Darah ended 9.40 rupees lower at 600.60 rupees.

Sri Lanka Telecom ended 1.90 rupees higher at 40.00 rupees and Carson Cumberbatch ended 10.50 rupees higher at 357.20 rupees.

Nestle Lanka ended 10 cents higher at 2,100.10 rupees and Cargills Ceylon closed 1.40 rupees lower at 147.60 rupees.

Distilleries closed 1.60 rupees higher at 214.00 rupees.