Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.5-pct

Mar 25, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's stocks close 0.52 percent higher with tobacco stocks reversing the losses despite a net foreign outflow, brokers said. NDB Capital Holdings closed 20.00 rupees higher at 530.00 rupees and Ceylinco Insurance closed 129.10 rupees lower at 1,370.70 rupees.

Trans Asia Hotels closed 2.90 rupees higher at 80.70 rupees and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings closed 10 cents higher at 71.00 rupees.

JKHâ€™s W0022 warrants closed 30 cents higher at 63.00 rupees and its W0023 warrants closed 1.50 rupees higher at 67.00 rupees.

Nestle Lanka closed 25.10 rupees lower at 1,963.90 rupees.

The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 30.55 points higher at 5,952.78 up 0.52 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 9.58 points higher at 3,256.49, up 0.30 percent.

Turnover was 416.42 million rupees, up from 197.93 million rupees a day earlier with 105 stocks close positive against 75 negative.

John Keells Holdings closed 1.50 rupees lower at 218.00 rupees with market transactions of 145.22 million rupees contributing to 35 percent of the daily turnover.

Foreign investors bought 188.11 million rupees worth shares while selling 220.55 million rupees of shares.

Janashakthi Insurance closed 50 cents higher at 14.50 rupees and Union Bank of Colombo closed flat at 18.70 rupees, attracting most number of trades during the day.

Ceylon Tobacco Company closed 66.00 rupees higher at 1,097.90 rupees and Carson Cumberbatch closed 18.60 rupees higher at 369.60 rupees, contributing most to the index gain.