Sri Lankan stocks up 0.42 percent

June 07, 2012 (LBO) - Sri Lankan stock prices rose marginally on Thursday, on selected buying across key blue chip counters, brokers said.

The All Share Price Index rose 0.42 percent or 20.23 points to 4,757.98, while the liquid Milanka Price Index gained 25.

09 points or 0.59 percent to close at 4,223.35, according to figures published by the Colombo Stock Exchange.

Thursday’s turnover was 499.46 million rupees, with foreign buying of 190.

58 million over foreign sales of 211.20 million rupees.

Conglomerate John Keells Holdings, with investments in leisure, food and transport, dominated the day’s trading on 769,287 shares.

The counter rose 1.80 rupees to 179.40 rupees.

Two large blocks of 133,000 each of JKH changed hands at 177.50 rupees and 177.40 rupees a share.

DFCC Bank, which does business in development banking and commercial banking, slipped 2.

20 rupees to 105.50 rupees on 470,472 shares. A parcel of 257,290 DFCC shares changed hands at 106.20 rupees.

Conglomerate Aitken Spence, with investments in leisure and transport, was flat at 109.

80 rupees on 401,368 shares.

Corrected JKH stock price 177.50