Tile sector counters in positive performance

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

CSE trading witnessed some volatility because the market noted profit -taking on the previous day. But tile sector counters performed positively yesterday, stock market analysts said. Further, with the month end being reached, the profit takings were noted during the day.

The stock market remained buoyant with high turnover. Royal Ceramic share price appreciated by five percent or Rs.2.70. Its share price started at Rs 54.10 and at the end of the day it shot up to Rs 56.80.

The indices continued their record-breaking streak on the back of stronger-than-expected financial results reported by a string of companies in the ongoing earnings season.

“As successive record highs were recorded, the ASPI breached the 10,100 level for the first time and ended in green for the seventh consecutive session while the S&P SL20 index also closed higher to surpass its previous peak recorded on Monday, stock analysts said.

Amid those developments both indices moved upwards. All Share Price Index went up by 17.16 points and S and P SL20 rose by 36 points. Turnover stood at Rs five billion with a single crossing. The crossing was reported in Distilleries, which crossed 10 million shares to the tune of Rs 176 million and its shares traded at Rs 17.50.

In the retail market top five companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Expolanka Holdings Rs 1.1 billion (4.9 million shares traded), Browns Investments Rs 752 million (6.6 million shares traded), Royal Ceramic Rs 315 million (5.6 million shares traded), ACL Cables Rs 275 million (four million shares traded) and HNB Rs 184 million (1.1 million shares traded). During the day 194 million share volumes changed hands in 36000 shares.

Sarvodaya Development Finance (SDF) recently announced its Initial Public Offering (IPO) proposition and will be allowing potential investors the ability to submit applications for the IPO, which will open on November 23, 2021.

SDF is a dynamic financial services provider that aims to uplift and empower rural masses across the nation by facilitating development opportunities with the prime goal of securing equitable economic growth and driving national development.

Investors stand to gain a range of benefits related to the forecasted highly positive company performance levels in the near future, offering investors the chance to invest into empowering Sri Lanka’s village entrepreneurs, while securing consistent returns, observers said.

Managed by NDB Investment Bank, Sarvodaya Development Finance will offer up to 45,454,546 ordinary voting shares at a price of Rs 22.00 per share through its IPO, resulting in a projected market capitalization of Rs 3.29 billion assuming full subscription at the Issue Price. This translates into an estimated forward PER of 16.17 for FY22 and implied TTM PER (as at August 31, 2021) of 11.02x.

Yesterday the US dollar was quoted at Rs 202.20, which was the controlled price of the Central Bank to prevent price escalations in essential food items in the country.