10/12/2013
Rupee flat, stocks up
Ceylon FT: The rupee closed marginally weaker against the US dollar and stocks closed 0.19% higher on Monday (9) to a three-week high.
The rupee closed weaker against the US dollar on Monday closing at 130.80/82 in the spot market, a six-week high after opening at 130.75/80.
Currency dealers said demand for dollars outweighed the effect of remittances inflows and export conversions, after the rupee gained to 130.70/75 against the greenback in early trade.
Secondary market Treasury bond yields increased after the Central Bank kept monetary policy rates on hold on Monday (9) for the second consecutive month.
The more liquid five year bond yield increased to 10.61/73%, up from the previous close of 10.38/52%.
The All Share Price Index closed 11.06 points higher at 5,821.30, up 0.19% and S&P SL20 closed 11.21 points higher at 3,194.30, up 0.35%.
Turnover amounted to Rs 332.3 million, down from Rs 779.8 million the previous day, with stocks of 79 firms closing in positive territory against 87 losers.
Foreigners were net sellers, selling stocks worth Rs 98.84 million, down from Rs 146.2 million the previous day, and bought shares worth Rs 76 million, down from Rs 272.6 million the previous day.
Stocks that influenced the ASPI:
JKH closed Rs 4.50 higher at Rs 215.00 and saw a single crossing take place during the day.
Ceylon To***co closed Rs 22.50 higher at Rs 1,129.90 and Commercial Bank closed Rs 1.50 higher at Rs 116.50.
Sri Lanka Telecom closed 40 cents higher at Rs 38.00 and John Keells Hotels closed 30 cents higher at Rs 12.50.
Finlays Colombo closed Rs 36.90 lower at Rs 253.10 and Hayleys PLC closed Rs 13.90 lower at Rs 305.00.
Carson Cumberbatch closed Rs 5.20 lower at Rs 354.60.
Dialog closed 10 cents lower at Rs 8.90 and Ceylon Guardian Investment Trust closed Rs 7.40 lower at Rs 170.50.
Both JKH and Commercial Bank were the top contributors to the day’s turnover.
Asiri Hospital closed 10 cents higher at Rs 15.80 and more than 1.4 million shares changed hands during the day.
“Both indices recorded gains due to price increases seen in index heavy John Keells Holdings, Ceylon To***co Company and Commercial Bank. Turnover was supported by a crossing seen in John Keells Holdings while high net worth investor interest was evident in Asiri Hospital Holdings and John Keells Holdings warrants. In addition Distilleries and Good Hope saw some interest,” NDB Securities said.