Sri Lankan shares close flat as IT gains offset healthcare losses

Sri Lankan shares closed flat on Thursday, as losses in healthcare stocks were countered by information technology gains.

The CSE All Share index settled down 0.05% at 21,405.62.

Renuka Foods PLC and Royal Palms Beach Hotels PLC were the top percentage losers on CSE All Share.

Trading volume on the index fell to 40.8 million shares from 43.9 million in the previous session.

The equity market’s turnover fell to 1.5 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($4.5 million) from 1.54 billion rupees in the previous session, according to exchange data.

Foreign investors were net sellers, offloading stocks worth 72.5 million rupees, while domestic investors were net buyers, purchasing shares worth 1.45 billion rupees, the data showed.