Colombo Stocks closed on a positive note today as both benchmark indices snapped losses. ASI gained 26.49 points (+0.39%) to close at 6,839.20 and liquid MPI gained 31.72 points (+0.51%) to close at 6,225.03
Daily market turnover was Rs.1.6bn.
Colombo Land & Development Plc (Rs.194.7mn) topped the turnover list today with attractive retail investor participation. Premier blue-chip, John Keells Holdings Plc recorded the second highest turnover while recording two off-the-floor transactions. John Keells closed at Rs.210.60, up Rs.6.00. Further, HVA Foods Plc made notable contribution to the daily turnover with an amount of Rs.137.8mn and traded heavily.
Softlogic Holdings Plc made a crossing of 951,800 shares at a price of Rs.23.00. Softlogic Holdings released its quarterly earnings today and it recorded a net profit of Rs.275.5mn for the first quarter of the financial year 2011/2012, which is a growth of 168.6% over the comparative quarter earnings. However the counter closed with no price changes.
Meanwhile, counters such as East West Properties Plc, Citrus Leisure Plc –warrant 0019 and Singer Finance Plc were among the mostly traded stocks during the day.
Foreign participation was lower at 6.5% of the total market activity. However at the end of the day foreign investor ended as net buyers with a net foreign inflow of Rs.62.5mn.