Sri Lankan shares extend declines

Sri Lankan shares ended down for a sixth consecutive session on Wednesday, hitting their lowest close in more than two weeks, as retail investors sold blue chips, but foreign buying in the island nation's risky assets capped further decline. The Colombo Stock Index ended 0.13 percent weaker at 6,439.34, its lowest close since January 2. It has shed 1.6 percent in the past six sessions.
Foreign investors bought shares worth net 146.2 million rupees ($949,968) on Wednesday, extending the net foreign inflow so far this year to 3 billion rupees. They had net bought 18.5 billion rupees worth equities in 2017 and 633.5 million rupees in 2016. Turnover stood at 491.1 million rupees on Wednesday, less than last year's daily average of 915.3 million rupees.