Sri Lanka stocks end down 0.4-pct

Oct 06, 2011 (LBO) - Sri Lankan stocks closed weaker for the third straight day Thursday with interest in 'penny' stocks and those that had drawn speculators, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index fell 0.43 percent (28.64 points) to 6,677.84, while the more liquid Milanka index fell 0.47 percent (27.91 points) to close at 5,938.60, according to stock exchange figures.

Turnover was 1.19 billion rupees.

eChannelling was the most actively traded stock for the second day, closing at 9.60 rupees, down 20 cents, with 17 million shares changing hands and accounting for the day's highest turnover.

Panasian Power was also actively traded, closing at five rupees, up 20 cents, with 12.4 million shars done.

Ceylon & Foreign Trades was another actively traded stock, closing at 11 rupees, down 40 cents.

Regnis (Lanka), whose price had soared in speculative trade in recent weeks, closed at 477.50 rupees, up 42.80, after hitting a day's high of 485 rupees. It accounted for the second highest turnover of the day.

Asian Alliance Insurance ended at 354.60 rupees, down 3.10.

Newly listed Capital Alliance Holdings close at 39.10 rupees, up a rupee.

There was a crossing of off-market private deal of 202,200 shares of Distilleries Company at 170 rupees a share. It closed at 170.70, down 80 cents.