Tuesday, 17 February 2015 00:20
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Reuters: Stocks closed lower to touch a near one-week low in thin trading on Monday as selling in market heavyweight John Keells Holdings Plc weighed on the index.
The main stock index, edged down 0.47%, or 34.76 points weaker, at 7,300.75, its lowest closing level since 10 February.
Turnover slumped to a three-week low of Rs. 612 million, well below this year’s daily average of Rs. 1.47 billion.
“There is not much buying interest (in Keells) as investors were waiting for prices (of the stock) to come down further to collect,” said First Capital Equities Ltd. Manager Research Dimantha Mathew.
Shares in Bukit Darah Plc fell 4.22%, while conglomerate John Keells Holdings Plc fell 1.11%.
Foreign investors bought a net Rs. 35.7 million ($ 268,825) worth of shares on Monday, extending their year to date net purchases to Rs. 1.58 billion. The bourse saw net foreign inflows of Rs. 22.07 billion in 2014.
The stock and foreign exchange markets will be closed on Tuesday for a Hindu religious holiday. Normal trading will resume on Wednesday.
