Turnover was a modest Rs.246.4 million, down from the previous day’s Rs.286.6 million, with the All Share Price Index down 10.85 points (0.23%) while the Milanka lost 9.54 points (0.23%) with 50 gainers trailing 144 losers.
"Sentiment is still negative," a broker said. "There were a few margin calls but no serious forced selling although the little there was did not help sentiment.’’
The major contributors to yesterday’s business volumes were NDB, Royal Ceramics, Tokyo Cement (non-voting), JKH, Commercial Bank and Carsons.
NDB which topped turnover closed Rs.1.70 up at 99.90 with nearly 0.3 million shares traded between Rs.98 and Rs.100 contributing Rs.29.7 million followed by RCL closing Rs.2.30 up at Rs.94.50 on nearly 0.2 million shares done between Rs.92 and Rs.95.50 generating Rs.17.1 million turnover.
Tokyo (non-voting) dropped 10 cents to close at Rs.18.90 on slightly over 0.6 million shares done between Rs.18.80 and Rs.19 generating Rs.11.6 million while JKH was up Rs.3.40 to close at Rs.177 on 64,002 shares done between Rs.175 and Rs.178 contributing Rs.11.3 million to turnover.
Commercial Bank closed 60 cents down at Rs.100.10 on nearly 0.1 million shares while Carsons was up 10 cents to Rs.468 on 2,003 shares.
Dividend announcements made included five cents per share from Agstar Fertilizers for 2011/12 XD from June 14 and payment on June 27; five cents from Malwatte for 2011 following a July 4 AGM and XD from July 5 and payment on July 12; and 80 cents final dividend from Singer Finance for 2011/12 XD from June 14 and payment on June 25.
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