Sri Lanka stocks close up at 0.6-pct

May 12, 2015 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's stocks closed up at 0.62 percent recording a two and a half month high with active trading seen in the manufacturing and finance sector stocks, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 44.98 points higher at 7,258.61 up 0.62 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 9.57 points higher at 4,070.61 up 0.24 percent. Turnover was 1.07 billion rupees up from 586.47 million rupees on Monday, with 120 stocks closing positive against 75 negative. Lanka Securities said, that the ASPI recorded a two and a half month high since February 27 with no crossing recorded during the day. In the manufacturing sector Alumex recorded a 52 week high and closed at 18.40 rupees, up 1.60 rupees and Alufab closed at 35.80 rupees, up 4.10 rupees. The main contributors to the ASPI was Distilleries Company with the stock closing at 289.00 rupees, up 14.70 rupees and Lanka Orix Leasing closing at 98.40 rupees, up 6.90 rupees. In the banking sector Hatton National Bank closed at 236.00 rupees, down 0.30 rupees and Commercial Bank closed at 171.80 rupees, down 0.10 rupees. DFCC closed at 219.40 rupees, up 1.280 rupees and National Development Bank closed at 272.00 rupees, up 1.80 rupees following yesterday’s announcement that the proposed merger with NDB would not go through as planned. John Keells Holdings closed at 202.80 rupees, down 0.20 rupees.