Shares slip as financial stocks drag

Reuters: Shares slipped on Wednesday, snapping a two-session winning streak, dragged down by losses in financial stocks.

The benchmark stock index ended down 0.1% at 6,629.02. It is up 8.2% so far this year.

Trading volume on the CSE All Share Index was 94.03 million compared to 939.24 million, a day earlier.

Carson Cumberbatch Plc and Ceylon Tobacco were the biggest boosts to the index, ending up 4% and 0.7%, respectively. Foreign investors were net sellers in the equity market, offloading Rs. 484.79 million rupees ($ 2.55 million) worth of shares, according to exchange data.

The Sri Lankan Rupee was quoted at 190 against the US Dollar as of 10:54 GMT, 0.53% lower for the day compared to last session’s close of 189, according to Refinitiv data. The currency is down 4.8% so far this year.  Equity market turnover was Rs. 2.72 billion, data showed.