Sri Lanka stocks close flat

Jun 24, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed flat, Wednesday with investors continuing to keep away from the market due to the prevailing uncertain political climate in the country, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed flat at 7,053.83 The S&P SL20 closed 11.06 points lower at 3,927.40 lower at 0.28 percent. Turnover was 606.36 million rupees, down from 810 million rupees Tuesday with 59 stocks closing positive against 88 negative. “We are expecting the market direction to change once the parliament is dissolved,” Lanka Securities said. The main index showed gains in Nestle Lanka closing at 2,150.00 rupees, up 69.00 rupees and Ceylon Tobacco closing at 910.10 rupees, down 9.60 rupees. John Keells Holding closed at 206.00 rupees, down 1.40 rupees and Dialog closed at 10.80 rupees, down 0.20 rupees. In Banking, Sampath Bank was top contributor to turnover and closed 259.80 rupees, up 0.50 rupees with one off the floor trade of 100,000 shares at 260.00 rupees. Commercial Bank closed at 161.50 rupees, down 0.50 rupees and DFCC closed flat at 200.00 rupees.