CSE indices decline as investors exercise caution

Hiran H. Senewiratne

CSE  investors were somewhat cautious yesterday due to the mounting number of Covid 19 patients in the country and spreading speculation that the  country  is heading for  a two week lockdown. These developments negatively impacted the  stock market  despite significant quarterly corporate  earnings thus far in almost all sectors, stock market analysts said.

Amid  those developments both CSE indices moved downwards. The All share price  index went down by 40 points and S and P SL 20 declined by 19.73 points. Turnover stood at Rs. 1.3 billion with a single crossing. The crossing was  reported in Sampath Bank which crossed 440000 shares  to the tune  of Rs. 22.08 million and its shares traded at Rs. 59.90.

In the  retail market top five companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were: Browns Investments Rs. 145 million, Haycarb Rs. 110 million (1.1 million shares traded ),Hayleys Rs100 million (1.2 million shares traded ),Dipped Products Rs. 79.5 million (1.4 million shares traded )and Royal Cermic Rs. 72 million (1.9 million shares traded ).During the day 116 share volumes changed hands in 16000 transactions.