Colombo market continued its positive momentum with new hopes yesterday expecting a new leader and the all party government.
Sri Lanka Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared a state of emergency with effect from Monday July 18 in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.Thus, The All-Share Price Index increased by 68.8 points (+0.9%) to close at 7,536.6 for the day whilst S&P SL20 Index also gained by 22.9 points (+1.0%) to close at 2,423.1. Sampath Bank, Hayleys, LOLC Holdings, Lanka IOC and Aitken Spence remained as the top positive contributors to the ASPI during the day.
Further, the broader market’s total turnover stood at Rs. 1,414.5 mn against the 12-month average daily turnover of Rs. 4,516.8 mn, whilst the volume traded for the day was 64,992.1 k against the 12-month average daily volume of 220,164.1 k. Banks, Capital Goods and Transportation mostly contributed to yesterday’s turnover.
The top turnover generators for yesterday were Heyleys Rs.357.3mn (+3.3%), Browns Investments Rs. 171.2 mn (+1.3%), and Lanka IOC Rs. 154.9mn (+3.8%), Expolanka Holdings Rs.137.5 mn (+0.3%) and John Keells Holdings Rs. 126.9 mn (+0.0%).Foreigners recorded a net inflow of Rs. 123.3 mn yesterday.
Foreign purchases stood at Rs. 140.0 mn whilst total foreign sales amounted to Rs. 16.8 mn. Further, an off-board transaction was witnessed in John Keells Holdings (Rs.109.8 mn) yesterday.
Additionally, SMB Leasing (Non-Voting), Industrial Asphalts, Agalawatte Plantations, Capital Alliance and Bogawantalawa were the top price gainers yesterday whilst Acme Printing & Packaging, The Nuwara Eliya Hotels, Orient Finance, Sigiriya Village and ODEL. were the top price losers. Further, Browns Investments, Hayleys, LOLC Finance, Acme Printing & Packaging and SMB Leasing (Non-Voting) were amongst the most actively traded stocks yesterday. (Courtesy Softlogic Stock Brokers)