Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.6-pct: Banking gains

July 15, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed up 0.56 percent on Wednesday, for a fifth consecutive session with banking sector showing gains, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 39.19 points higher at 7,066.19 up 0.56 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 37.38 points higher at 3,957.66 up 0.95 percent. Turnover was 833.5 million rupees, up from 367.3 million rupees Tuesday with 95 stocks closing positive against 47 negative. The main index showed gains in banking sector stocks across the board with DFCC closing at 197.00 rupees, up 5.60 rupees and Commercial bank closed at 166.70 rupees, up 1.70 rupees. Main contributor to turnover was Distilleries Company closing at 280.70 rupees, up 10.70 rupees. In other banking stocks, Hatton National Bank closed at 210.00 rupees, up 0.10 rupees and Sampath Bank closed at 258.00 rupees, up 5.70 rupees. Dialog Axiata closed at 10.70 rupees, up 0.10 rupees and John Keells Holdings closed at 184.00 rupees, up 1.00 rupees.