Sri Lankan shares close almost flat

BENGALURU: Sri Lankan shares ended marginally higher on Friday, aided by gains in industrial and consumer discretionary stocks.

• The CSE All Share index settled up 0.04% at 10,526.93.

• However, the index fell for a second straight week, shedding 0.81%.

• Sri Lanka expects the International Monetary Fund to approve the first review of its bailout programme next month, the central bank governor of the crisis-hit country said on Friday.

• In an unexpected move, the island nation’s central bank lowered interest rates on Friday and said would hold off from any further easing while projecting subdued inflation over the medium term.

• Ceylon Tobacco Company and Ceylon Beverage Holdings were the top gainers on the CSE All Share, rising 0.99% and 5.93%, respectively.

Sri Lanka shares end higher as industrials, consumer staples rise

• Trading volume on the CSE All Share index fell to 20.1 million shares from 27.9 million shares in the previous session.

• The equity market’s turnover fell to 430.3 million Sri Lankan rupees ($1.31 million) from 812.3 million rupees in the previous session, according to exchange data.

• Foreign investors were net buyers, purchasing stocks worth 43.3 million rupees, while domestic investors were net sellers, offloading shares worth 421.5 million rupees, the data showed.