Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.2-pct

Sep 04, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's stocks close 0.19 percent higher with price gains in index heavy counters such as Nestle Lanka, Ceylon Tobacco Company and Commercial Bank amid strong foreign participation, brokers said. Foreign investors bought 951.70 million rupees worth shares while selling 546.46 million rupees worth shares.

Nestle Lanka closed 24.90 rupees higher at 2,090.00 rupees, contributing most to the index gain.

Selinsing closed 395.00 rupees lower at 1,500.00 rupees.

The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 13.50 points higher at 7,060.60, up 0.19 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 15.93 points higher at 3,902.81, up 0.41 percent.

Turnover was 1.63 billion rupees, up from 1.19 billion rupees a day earlier with 119 stocks closed positive against 95 negative.

Ceylon Tobacco Company closed 3.60 rupees higher at 1,200.00 rupees with an off-market transaction of 240.00 million rupees changing hands at 1,200.00 rupees per share contributing 15 percent of the daily turnover.

John Keells Holdings closed 40 cents higher at 249.90 rupees with three off-market transactions of 226.17 million rupees changing hands at 250.00 rupees per share contributing 14 percent of the turnover.

The aggregate value of all off-the-floor deals represented 43 percent of the turnover.

ODEL closed 80 cents higher at 21.60 rupees, attracting most number of trades during the day.