Sri Lanka stocks up 0.4-pct, healthy foreign inflow

Oct 01, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed up 0.42 percent on Thursday with  foreign investors activity rose to record the highest foreign participation after 17 months, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed up 29.61 points at 7,080.48 higher 0.42 percent. S&P SL20 closed 10.18 points higher at 3,836.33 up 0.27 percent. Turnover was 1.8 billion rupees, up 1.3 million rupees Wednesday with 106 stocks closing positive against 34 negative. "Turnover was supported by crossings which accounted for 71 percent," Lanka Securities said. "Activity level of the foreigners increased during the week to record average of 59 percent of the market activity, amid the positive sentiments triggered in the UNHCR session, favoring the country and its economy." The main index showed gains in Dialog Axiata closing at 11.10 rupees, up 0.20 rupees and Colombo Leasing closing at 4.20 rupees, up 0.20 rupees. Ceylinco Insurance Company closed at 1,455.40 rupees, up 55.40 rupees. John Keells Holdings closed at 170.00 rupees, up 0.30 rupees with 7 off the floor traded recorded amounting to2.5 million shares at 171.00 rupees. Commercial Bank closed at 159.80 rupees, up 0.80 rupees with three off the floor trades recorded amounting to 1.2 million shares at 160.00 rupees. Foreign investors closed the session on buying side with a net foreign inflow of 284 million rupees. Foreign participation was 68 percent. Net foreign inflows were seen in Nations Trust Bank 265 million rupees, Commercial Bank 25 million rupees, Hemas Holdings 16 million rupees while net foreign outflow was mainly seen in John Keells Holdings 25 million rupees. (UPDATED)