May 29, 2013 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's stock closed up 0.33 percent on Wednesday ending two days of losses helped by renewed interest banks and beverage shares, brokers said.
The benchmark Colombo All Share Index closed 21.11 points higher at 6,455.81 and the S&P SL 20 Index closed up 17.68 points at 3,644.64 up 0.49 percent.
Turnover was 906 million rupees up from 557 million day earlier.
Foreigners brought 239 million rupees worth shares while selling 136 million rupees of shares, in a day that 118 stocks advanced and 86 stocks declined.
Commercial Bank of Ceylon contributed most to the index gain closing at 122.50 rupees up 1.10 rupees. Ceylon Beverage Holdings closed at 599.00 rupees up 54.00 rupees and Sri Lanka Telecom closed at 43.40 rupees up 40 cents.
Hatton National Bank closed at 167.50 rupees up 1.50 rupees, DFCC Bank closed flat at 144.00 rupees and National Development Bank closed at 178.90 rupees up 4.50 rupees.
Pan Asia closed flat at 21.00 rupees. Union Bank of Colombo closed at 19.00 rupees down 40 cents and Sampath Bank gained 3.10 rupees to close at 224.90 rupees.
LB Finance closed at 130.00 rupees up 60 cents, Peoples Leasing and Finance closed at 15.10 rupees up 20 cents and Commercial Leasing & Finance lost 10 cents to close at 4.40 rupees.
The Lion Brewery gained 1.90 rupee to close at 420.10 rupees, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka closed at 200.10 rupees up 10 cents and Ceylon Tobacco Company gained 2.90 rupees to close at 975.00 rupees.
Chevron Lubricant Lanka gained 6.60 rupees to close at 322.00 rupees as investors chased the foreign managed stock after driving up Nestle and Ceylon Tobacco to historic highs.
Index John Keells Holdings lost 70 cents to close at 288.70 rupees and Nestle Lanka closed at 2009.00 rupees down 7.60 rupees.
Aitken Spence closed at 135.20 down 1.30 rupees. Browns Investments closed flat at 3.40 rupees.
Softlogic Holding closed at 11.80 rupees up 20cents and Vallibel One closed at 20.00 rupees up 20 cents. Dialog Axiata closed flat at 9.40 rupees.
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/news/sri-lanka-stocks-close-up-0.3-pct/118220066