May 18 Sri Lankan shares ended little-changed on Monday, hovering around their 11-week high hit in the previous session, led by illiquid large-cap stocks such as Carson Cumberbatch Plc and Bukit Darah Plc , brokers said.
The main stock index fell 0.05 percent, or 3.65 points, to close at 7,255.02, slipping from its highest close since Feb. 27 touched on Friday.
"The market is down on large-caps, but with good turnover due to local investor confidence backed by strong corporate earnings," said Dimantha Mathew, research manager at First Capital Equities (Pvt) Ltd.
Monday's turnover was 1.1 billion rupees ($8.3 million), close to this year's daily average of around 1.11 billion rupees.
Foreign investors were net sellers of shares worth 28.5 million rupees on Monday, but have net bought 5.74 billion rupees in equities so far this year.
Political uncertainty due to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe-led UNP not having a parliament majority has been a drag on the market, though the trend reversed after the central bank cut key monetary policy rates to record lows on April 15.
The index has gained more than 5 percent since the rate cut.
Investors had been waiting for direction on the political front, analysts said, with the prime minister saying he would invite the main opposition to join government when he wins the parliamentary polls, which is yet to be scheduled.
Analysts, however, still expect the index to move sideways until the situation becomes clearer.
President Maithripala Sirisena has promised to dissolve the parliament after passing some key reforms next week.
Carson Cumberbatch shares fell 2.38 percent, while Bukit Darah fell 2.03 percent.
($1 = 133.3000 Sri Lankan rupees)
The main stock index fell 0.05 percent, or 3.65 points, to close at 7,255.02, slipping from its highest close since Feb. 27 touched on Friday.
"The market is down on large-caps, but with good turnover due to local investor confidence backed by strong corporate earnings," said Dimantha Mathew, research manager at First Capital Equities (Pvt) Ltd.
Monday's turnover was 1.1 billion rupees ($8.3 million), close to this year's daily average of around 1.11 billion rupees.
Foreign investors were net sellers of shares worth 28.5 million rupees on Monday, but have net bought 5.74 billion rupees in equities so far this year.
Political uncertainty due to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe-led UNP not having a parliament majority has been a drag on the market, though the trend reversed after the central bank cut key monetary policy rates to record lows on April 15.
The index has gained more than 5 percent since the rate cut.
Investors had been waiting for direction on the political front, analysts said, with the prime minister saying he would invite the main opposition to join government when he wins the parliamentary polls, which is yet to be scheduled.
Analysts, however, still expect the index to move sideways until the situation becomes clearer.
President Maithripala Sirisena has promised to dissolve the parliament after passing some key reforms next week.
Carson Cumberbatch shares fell 2.38 percent, while Bukit Darah fell 2.03 percent.
($1 = 133.3000 Sri Lankan rupees)
(Reporting by Ranga Sirilal; Editing by Prateek Chatterjee)
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