Sri Lanka stocks close up 1.3-pct

Sept 12, 2012 (LBO) - Sri Lanka closed up 1.38 percent in a day that a commodity broker and a finance company started trading for the first time, brokers said. Selinsing, an illiquid stock which rose 500 rupees with a single share being traded on Tuesday fell back 209 rupees to 1,390.

Some poultry stocks which had made steep gains in recent days also dropped on profit taking. Bairaha Farms fell 8.40 rupees to 176.40, Three Acre Farms fell 1.30 to 73.20 and Ceylon Grain Elevators fell 1.0 rupee to 74.10.

The Colombo All Share Price Index close up 77.4 points at 5,668.30 and the S&P SL20 Index closed up 1.29 percent at 3,073.2 points up 1.29 percent.

Turnover was 1,207 million rupees.

Debutant Asia Siyake Commodities closed at 9.90 rupees, after moving as high as 22.00 rupees in intra-day trading, up 395 percent from its indicative pricing.

George Steuart Finance closed at 213.70 after trading as high as 220 rupees, up 968 percent from its indicative price.

Index heavy John Keells Holdings closed up 5.40 at 208.40 rupees and Sri Lanka Telecom closed up 2.50 at 47.20 rupees, contributing most to the index, according to stock exchange data.