IT, energy stocks drag Sri Lankan shares lower

Sri Lankan shares closed lower on Monday, dragged down by losses in information technology and energy stocks.

The CSE All-Share index settled 0.48% lower at 22,253.52 points.

SMB Leasing PLC and Kotmale Holdings were the top percentage losers on the index, down 25% and 8.44%, respectively, on the day.

Trading volume on the index fell to 44.3 million shares from 75.8 million shares in the previous session.

The equity market’s turnover fell to 1.18 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($3.54 million) from 1.88 billion rupees in the previous session, according to exchange data.

Foreign investors were net sellers, offloading stocks worth 158.6 million rupees, while domestic investors were net buyers, purchasing shares worth 1.18 billion rupees, the data showed.