Trading at CSE: Expolanka Holdings generates 19% of total turnover

By Hiran H.Senewiratne

Stock trading at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) rebounded yesterday on fresh buying of sound mid-caps and better corporate earnings, after a sharp dip of over 4 percent on Wednesday.

Notably, trading in Expolanka Holdings Plc. amounted to 19% of total turnover.

The market was bullish in the morning and moved up by 8 points and later it started declining with the increase of Covid-19 positive cases and speculation that a lockdown could be clamped on the City of Colombo.

The Bourse ended on a positive note as the ASPI increased by 8.24 points , while the S&P SL20 Index also increased by 5.12 points. The turnover stood at Rs 1.74 billion with two crossings. Those crossings reported in Lion Brewery, which crossed 593,000 shares to the tune of Rs 323.2 million and its share price was Rs 545 and Amana Takaful Insurance 11.3 million shares crossed for Rs 97.4 million and its share traded at Rs 8.60. 

In the retail market top five contributors to the turnover were Expolanka Rs 324 million –17.9 million shares traded — amounting to 19% of total turnover, while Tokyo Cement (Non Voting) Rs 84.9 million (1.6 million shares traded), RIL Properties Rs 72 million (9.7 million shares traded), Piramal Glass Rs 70.3 million (9.7 million shares traded) and Commercial Bank Rs 57.1 million (700,000 shares) traded. During the day 105 million share volume changed hands in 17418 transactions.

Materials sector was the top contributor to the market turnover (due to Tokyo Cement Company non-voting and voting), whilst the sector index gained 2.87 percent . The share price of Tokyo Cement Company non-voting gained Rs. 1.50 (2.97%) to close at Rs. 52.00. The share price of Tokyo Cement Company recorded a gain of Rs. 1.50 (2.54 percent ) to close at Rs. 60.60.Transportation sector was the second highest contributor to the market turnover (due to Expolanka Holdings), whilst the sector index increased by 4.63 percent . The share price of Expolanka Holdings increased by Rs. 0.80 (4.65 percent ) to close at Rs. 18.00.