CSE trading dips following 15-day market upswing

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

CSE trading is going through a dip, having experienced positive market conditions for well over 15 consecutive days due to profit- takings at month’s- end, market analysts said.

Amid those developments both indices moved downwards yesterday. The All-Share Price Index went down by 34.36 points and S and P SL20 declined by 29.36 points. Turnover stood at Rs 1.5 billion with two crossings. Those crossings were reported in NTB, which crossed 500,000 shares to the tune of Rs 47.5 million, its shares traded at Rs 95 and JKH 295,000 shares crossed for Rs 46.9 million; its shares traded at Rs 159.

In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were, NDB Rs 85.1 million (1.1 million shares traded), People’s Leasing Rs 82.9 million (7.5 million shares traded), JKH Rs 75.2 million (475,000 shares traded), Vallibel One Rs 75.2 million (1.5 million shares traded), NTB Rs 60.1 million (633,000 shares traded), Hayleys Rs 50.8 million (588,000 shares traded) and Lanka IOC Rs 42.7 million (334,000 shares traded). During the day 32.3 million share volumes changed hands in 20000 transactions.

Yesterday the Central Bank’s US dollar buying rate was Rs 323.69 and selling rate Rs 337.17.