Colombo Stock Exchange: Merchant Bank & The Finance, the Highest Contributors

2nd September 2009, www.news.lk

Merchant Bank was the highest contributor to the market turnover with Rs.173.91 million. The share gained Rs.4.50 or 19.15% to close the day at Rs.28.00, while trading at a high of Rs.30.50 and a low of Rs.24.50.

The Finance Company was the second highest contributor to the market turnover with Rs.86.94 million. The share gained Rs.1.25 or 4.46% to close the day at Rs.29.25, while trading at a high of Rs.31.75 and a low of Rs.29.00.

Index heavyweight Sri Lanka Telecom closed flat at Rs.41.00 while top mobile phone operator by market share Dialog Telekom was up by Rs.0.25 or 4.55% to close the day at Rs.5.75 with over two million shares traded.

In the banking sector, heavy trading was seen in Seylan Bank (Non Voting) with over six million shares trading between Rs.9.25 and Rs.12.50 gaining Rs.3.00 or 33.33% to close the day at Rs.12.00. Commercial Bank gained Rs.1.00 or 0.67% to close the day at Rs.151.00 with 248,700 shares traded. Pan Asia Bank was up by Rs.0.75 or 5.26% to close the day at Rs.15.00 with 391,500 shares traded. National Development Bank gained Rs.3.00 or 1.79% to close the day at Rs.171.00.

In the hotels sector, Trans Asia Hotels gained the most with an increase of 5.26% or Rs.6.75 to close the day at Rs.135.00 while Amaya Leisure was up by 4.89% or Rs.2.25 to close the day at Rs.48.25. Stafford Hotels closed flat at Rs.25.25 with 158,100 shares traded. John Keells Hotels gained Rs.0.50 or 3.45% to close the day at Rs.15.00 with 194,300 shares traded. Tangerine Beach Hotels lost Rs.3.00 or 4.07% to close the day at Rs.70.75.

The top gainers for the day were Seylan Bank (Non Voting) up by Rs.3.00 or 33.33% to close at Rs.12.00, Blue Diamonds Jewellery (Non Voting) up by Rs.0.10 or 25.00% to close at Rs.0.50, Merchant Bank up by Rs.4.50 or 19.15% to close at Rs.28.00 and Ceylon Grain Elevators up by Rs.2.00 or 16.33% to close at Rs.14.25.

The top losers for the day were Regnis Lanka down by Rs.10.25 or 16.87% to close at Rs.50.50, Lanka Aluminium down by Rs.2.00 or 6.67% to close at Rs.28.00, Kelani Valley Plantations down by Rs.3.00 or 5.66% to close at Rs.50.00 and Hunas Falls Hotels down by Rs.2.50 or 4.63% to close at Rs.51.50.