Sri Lanka stocks close up 1.1-pct

Aug 07, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's stocks closed 1.10 percent higher recording over two billion rupees in turnover with tobacco stocks gaining amid strong foreign buying, brokers said. Foreign investors bought 737.17 million rupees worth shares while selling 312.60 million rupees worth shares.

Ceylon Tobacco Company closed 28.70 rupees higher at 1,159.30 rupees, contributing most to the index gain.

Carson Cumberbatch closed 10.00 rupees higher at 470.00 rupees and Lion Brewery Ceylon closed 16.20 rupees higher at 623.80 rupees.

The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 74.92 points higher at 6,908.18, up 1.10 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 37.24 points higher at 3,790.03, up 0.99 percent.

Turnover was 2.24 billion rupees, up from 1.40 billion rupees a day earlier with 146 stocks closed positive against 69 negative.

Chevron Lubricants Lanka closed 2.50 rupees higher at 314.00 rupees with an off-market transaction of 62.04 million rupees changing hands at 310.20 rupees per share contributing 3 percent of the daily turnover.

The aggregate value of all off-the-floor deals represented 7 percent of the turnover.

John Keells Holdings closed 2.00 rupees higher at 240.00 rupees with market transactions of 504.83 million rupees contributing 23 percent of the turnover.

JKHâ€™s W0022 warrants closed 20 cents higher at 72.00 rupees and its W0023 warrants closed 1.00 rupee higher at 79.00 rupees.

Central Investments and Finance closed 40 cents higher at 2.60 rupees, attracting most number of trades during the day.