Sri Lanka stocks lower at close of trade; CSE All-Share down 0.24%

Sri Lanka stocks lower at close of trade; CSE All-Share down 0.24%

Sri Lanka stocks were lower after the close on Monday, as losses in theInformation Technology, Investment Trust and Healthcare sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Colombo, the CSE All-Share declined 0.24%.

The best performers of the session on the CSE All-Share were Central Investments and Finance PLC (CM:CIFL), which rose 22.22% or 0.200 points to trade at 1.100 at the close. Meanwhile, Agalawatte Plantations PLC (CM:AGAL) added 17.07% or 3.50 points to end at 24.00 and Elpitiya Plantations PLC (CM:ELPL) was up 9.50% or 1.90 points to 21.90 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Multi Finance PLC (CM:MULT), which fell 13.70% or 2.00 points to trade at 12.60 at the close. Hapugastenne Plantations PLC (CM:HAPU) declined 12.21% or 2.10 points to end at 15.10 and Gestetner of Ceylon PLC (CM:GEST) was down 9.17% or 10.50 points to 104.00.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Colombo Stock Exchange by 108 to 79 and 45 ended unchanged.

Shares in Central Investments and Finance PLC (CM:CIFL) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 22.22% or 0.200 to 1.100. Shares in Hapugastenne Plantations PLC (CM:HAPU) fell to 5-year lows; down 12.21% or 2.10 to 15.10. Shares in Gestetner of Ceylon PLC (CM:GEST) fell to 5-year lows; losing 9.17% or 10.50 to 104.00.

Crude oil for October delivery was up 3.69% or 1.63 to $45.78 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in November rose 3.05% or 1.43 to hit $48.26 a barrel, while the December Gold contract rose 0.16% or 2.15 to trade at $1330.25 a troy ounce.

GBP/LKR was up 0.51% to 193.990, while USD/LKR rose 0.25% to 145.895.

The US Dollar Index was down 0.21% at 95.67.