Sri Lanka stocks end down 0.7-pct

Aug 24, 2011 (LBO) - Sri Lankan share prices closed lower for the fourth straight day Wednesday, with trading mainly on speculative stocks while there were a few off-market private deals, brokers said. There were also two crossings of John Keells Holdings of 100,000 shares each one at 212 rupees and the other at 208 rupees a share. It closed at 206.50, up 90 cents. The main All Share Price Index closed at 6,812.71, down 0.71 percent (49.02 points) while the more liquid Milanka index fell 0.41 percent (25.72 points) to close at 6,193.31, according to stock exchange figures.

Turnover was 1.1 billion rupees.

Asiri Hospital Holdings was the most actively traded stock, with over two million shares donw, closing at 9.60 rupees, down 2.10.

Colombo Land & Development Company was also heavily traded, with 1.6 million shares done. It closed at 61.50 rupees, up 70 cents.

Lanka Securities said Colombo Land & Development was the top contributor to the market turnover followed by Brown & Company and National Development Bank.

"Alufab emerged as the top gainer of the day with heavy trading," they said.

HVA Foods was also among the actively traded stocks with over a million shares changing hands and closing at 35.60 rupees, down 1.70.

There were two crossings or off-market private deals of National Development Bank of 200,000 shares at 137 rupees each and 300,000 shares at 135 rupees. It closed at 137, up a rupee.