Stock trading in most sectors sees boost, trading in JKH amounts to 24% of total turnover

The All Share Price Index (ASPI) at the Colombo Stock Exchange ended sharply higher amid healthy turnover levels with most sectors witnessing advances, John Keells Stock Brokers (JKSB) said yesterday.

John Keels Holdings, First Capital Treasuries PLC, and First Capital Holdings PLC led market activity with crossings also seen in Asian Hotels and Properties PLC. Trading in JKH amounted to 24% of total turnover which crossed Rs.1.0bn.

Diversified Financials was the most actively traded sector while Commercial and Professional Services was the best performing sector. Food and Staples Retailing was the worst performing sector, according to the report.

Meanwhile, the government of India has reaffirmed its commitment to furthering the development agenda in Sri Lanka. This commitment materialised through the allocation of additional funds to expedite the progress of nine ongoing development projects in the country, all of which are backed by the government of India. A formal agreement solidifying this initiative was signed in Colombo on Oct. 11.

Amid this development, the government of Sri Lanka yesterday announced that it has reached an agreement on the key principles and indicative terms of a debt treatment with the Export-Import Bank of China.

On the monetary side, the Sri Lanka Rupee remained steady against the US Dollar at commercial banks yesterday compared to Wednesday. At Peoples Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar remain unchanged at Rs. 316.18 and Rs. 329.37, respectively.

According to Commercial Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar remained unchanged at Rs. 316.71, while the selling rate was also unchanged at Rs. 328. At Sampath Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar remained unchanged at Rs. 318 and Rs. 328, respectively.