CSE bounces back; indices pick-up but turnover low

By Hiran H.Senewiratne 

CSE activities bounced back  yesterday following a continued decline in its activities on  previous days.  But the market registered low turnover, fuelling investor concerns, stock market analysts said.

Both CSE indices moved upwards. The All Share Price Index went up by  76. 69 points and S and P SL20 rose by 39.03 points. Turnover stood at Rs. 2.07 billion without a crossing.

In the retail market, top five companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Expolanka Rs. 188 million (4.2 million shares traded), LOLC Holdings Rs. 158.6 million (526,000 shares traded), Sampath Bank Rs. 155 million (one million shares traded), JKH Rs. 145 million (975,000 shares traded) and  Dipped Products Rs. 118 million (2.8 million shares traded). During the day 76.96 million share volumes changed hands in 18746 transactions.

Sri Lanka’s rupee quoted flat at 196.00/197.00 levels to the US dollar in the one-week forwards market on Friday while bond yields remained steady, dealers said. The rupee last closed in the one- week forward market at 196.00/197.00 to the dollar on Thursday.

Sri Lanka expects the GDP to grow between 3.0 to 3.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2021 with the rapid vaccination campaign rolled out giving people more confidence.