Shares close lower as industrials weigh

REUTERS: Sri Lankan shares ended lower yesterday, hurt by losses in industrial and material stocks.

The CSE All-Share Index fell 0.32 percent to close at 7,216.70 points. The index is up about 6.5 percent for the year.

Insurance underwriter Ceylinco Insurance Plc and conglomerate John Keells Holdings were the top drags on the index, falling 4.42 percent and 1.22 percent respectively.

Trading volumes fell to 100.1 million from 107.3 million in the previous session.

Foreign investors were net sellers in the equity market, offloading more than Rs.839 million (US$4.28 million) worth of shares, according to exchange data.

Equity market turnover was Rs. 2.52 billion, exchange data showed. The Sri Lankan rupee was last quoted at 196 against the U.S. dollar as of 1145 GMT, according to Refinitiv data.