Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.4-pct

Mar 04, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's stocks close 0.38 percent higher Tuesday with index heavy John Keells Holdings and Ceylon Tobacco Company extending gains, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 22.61 points higher at 5,936.62, up 0.38 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 7.53 points higher at 3,221.42, up 0.23 percent.

Turnover was 371.32 million rupees, up from 259.65 million rupees a day earlier.

Foreign investors bought 114.15 million rupees worth shares while selling 107.80 million rupees of shares.

101 stocks closed up against 67 going down.

Ceylon Tobacco Company closed 16.60 rupees higher at 1,105.80 rupees and JKH closed 1.60 rupees higher at 220.10 rupees, contributing most to the index gain.

JKHâ€™s W0022 warrants closed 1.00 rupee higher at 63.30 rupees and its W0023 warrants closed 60 cents higher at 65.90 rupees.

Dialog closed 10 cents higher at 9.20 rupees and Lion Brewery closed 8.00 rupees higher at 393.00 rupees.

SLT closed 40 cents lower at 44.30 rupees and Ceylinco Insurance closed 24.90 rupees lower at 1,348.00 rupees.

Nestle Lanka ended 30 cents lower at 2,000.00 rupees and Distilleries closed 1.20 rupees higher at 205.00 rupees.

DFCC Bank ended 60 cents lower at 142.40 rupees and NDB bank closed 60 cents higher at 180.00 rupees.