Friday, 9 October 2015

Sri Lankan stocks end firmer, banking shares lead

Reuters: Sri Lankan stocks closed at a one-week high on Friday, led by banking shares ahead of the announcement of September-quarter results, brokers said.

The main stock index ended 0.15 percent higher, or up 10.41 points, at 7,096.06, its highest close since Oct. 2.

"We have seen buying starting to come in to market from retail and institutional investors," said Dimantha Mathew, a research manager at First Capital Equities (Pvt) Ltd.

"Things looks a bit more positive ahead of the September quarter earnings."

The index however fell 0.13 percent on the week as uncertainty ahead of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's policy statement next month outlining the economic priorities of the newly-formed government weighed.

Foreign investors bought a net 2.93 million rupees worth of shares on Friday, but they have been net sellers of 3.05 billion rupees worth of equities so far this year.

Turnover stood at 1.02 billion rupees ($7.29 million), compared with this year's daily average of 1.11 billion rupees.

Shares in Dialog Axiata Plc rose 0.94 percent while DFCC Bank Plc gained 1.66 percent and National Development Bank Plc climbed 1.47 percent. 


($1 = 139.9000 Sri Lankan rupees) 

(Reporting by Ranga Sirilal)

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