Reuters: Sri Lankan shares ended slightly firmer on Tuesday, rising for the first time in seven sessions on positive sentiment after an IMF loan approval, but concerns over rising interest rates and foreign outflows dented sentiment.
Turnover was low at 596.6 million rupees ($4.10 million), well below this year's daily average of around 786.3 million rupees.
The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) executive board approved a three-year $1.5 billion loan to support Sri Lanka's economic reform agenda, the global lender said on Saturday.
The benchmark Colombo stock index ended 0.08 percent up at 6,524. It declined 0.8 percent last week, losing for the third straight week after gaining six consecutive weeks.
"We believe the market will start moving up. But it will take time since the net foreign numbers are not that good," said Dimantha Mathew, head of research at First Capital Equities (Pvt) Ltd.
"Investors are still cautious about interest rates."
Treasury bill yields rose between 4 and 35 basis points to near three-year highs in the last two weekly auctions through Wednesday despite the central bank leaving key policy rates steady for a third straight month on May 20.
Investors are concerned about foreign outflows, with overseas investors offloading a net 25.5 million rupees worth of shares on Tuesday, extending the year-to-date net foreign outflow to 5.66 billion rupees.
Stockbrokers said a rise in interest rates could be detrimental to risky assets if they jumped beyond 12 percent. The average prime lending rate (AWPR) edged up 8 basis points to 10.23 percent in the week ended June 3.
Shares of Bukit Darah Plc jumped 3.98 percent while shares of John Keells Holding Plc rose 0.19, pushing up the overall index.
Shares in biggest listed lender Commercial Bank of Ceylon Plc rose 0.55 percent.
($1 = 145.6500 Sri Lankan rupees)
Turnover was low at 596.6 million rupees ($4.10 million), well below this year's daily average of around 786.3 million rupees.
The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) executive board approved a three-year $1.5 billion loan to support Sri Lanka's economic reform agenda, the global lender said on Saturday.
The benchmark Colombo stock index ended 0.08 percent up at 6,524. It declined 0.8 percent last week, losing for the third straight week after gaining six consecutive weeks.
"We believe the market will start moving up. But it will take time since the net foreign numbers are not that good," said Dimantha Mathew, head of research at First Capital Equities (Pvt) Ltd.
"Investors are still cautious about interest rates."
Treasury bill yields rose between 4 and 35 basis points to near three-year highs in the last two weekly auctions through Wednesday despite the central bank leaving key policy rates steady for a third straight month on May 20.
Investors are concerned about foreign outflows, with overseas investors offloading a net 25.5 million rupees worth of shares on Tuesday, extending the year-to-date net foreign outflow to 5.66 billion rupees.
Stockbrokers said a rise in interest rates could be detrimental to risky assets if they jumped beyond 12 percent. The average prime lending rate (AWPR) edged up 8 basis points to 10.23 percent in the week ended June 3.
Shares of Bukit Darah Plc jumped 3.98 percent while shares of John Keells Holding Plc rose 0.19, pushing up the overall index.
Shares in biggest listed lender Commercial Bank of Ceylon Plc rose 0.55 percent.
($1 = 145.6500 Sri Lankan rupees)
(Reporting by Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez; Editing by Sunil Nair)
