Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.5-pct

July 21, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's stocks closed 0.51 percent higher with diversified stocks gaining despite net foreign selling, brokers said. Carson Cumberbatch closed 10.00 rupees higher at 468.00 rupees and John Keells Holdings closed 1.70 rupees higher at 246.70 rupees.

JKHâ€™s W0022 warrants closed 2.90 rupees higher at 66.90 rupees and its W0023 warrants closed 1.50 rupees higher at 74.50 rupees.

The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 34.32 points higher at 6,756.52, up 0.51 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 29.17 points higher at 3,768.15, up 0.78 percent.

Turnover was 904.71 million rupees, down from 1.30 billion rupees last Friday with 132 stocks closed positive against 66 negative.

DFCC Bank closed 30 cents lower at 165.40 rupees with an off-market transaction of 162.00 million rupees changing hands at 162.00 rupees per share contributing 18 percent of the daily turnover.

The aggregate value of all off-the-floor deals represented 35 percent of the turnover.

George Steuart Finance closed 1.80 rupees lower at 45.90 rupees, attracting most number of trades during the day.

Foreign investors bought 210.69 million rupees worth shares while selling 363.41 million rupees worth shares.

Commercial Bank closed 2.80 rupees higher at 143.30 rupees and Lion Brewery Ceylon closed 26.00 rupees higher at 667.60 rupees, contributing most to the index gain.