Shares end higher on industrial, financial boost

REUTERS: Sri Lankan shares ended higher yesterday, helped by gains in industrial and financial stocks.

The CSE All-Share Index ended up 0.43 percent at 7,127.69.

Insurance underwriter Ceylinco Insurance PLC and conglomerate Expolanka Holdings PLC were the top boosts to the index, gaining 7.7 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively.

Conglomerate LOLC Holdings and Ceylon Beverage Holdings PLC were the top drags to the index, falling 1.2 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively.

Trading volume fell to 58.1 million, from 66 million in the previous session.

Foreign investors were net sellers, offloading Rs.1.36 billion (US $ 6.85 million) worth of shares, according to exchange data.

Equity market turnover was Rs.2.19 billion, exchange data showed.

The Sri Lankan rupee was last quoted at 198.5 against the U.S. dollar as of 1211 GMT, according to Refinitiv data.