HNB, Commercial bank share prices rise

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka stocks edged up at close mainly pushed up by the price gains in banking and the financial sectors as well as the positive macroeconomics sentiments, analysts said.

All Share Price Index (ASPI) gained 0.06 percent or 5.31 points to 8,848.36, its highest since February 13.

“The ASPI edged up as a result of price gains in counters such as Commercial Bank, Hatton National Bank and Melstacorp,” an analyst said.

During the week the ASPI and the S&P SL20 lost 1.0 percent and 1.6 percent respectively.

With discussions for debt restructuring with China starting investors hope the loan will finalize by the second quarter of 2023, analysts said,

Net foreign earnings were 29.7 million rupees on Friday. However, they have bought a net of 4.2 billion worth of shares so far this year.

The most liquid index S&P SL20 closed 0.20 percent or 5.57 points down at 2,712.74.

The market saw a turnover of 1.2 billion rupees today, lower than this year’s daily average of 1.8 billion rupees and the 2022 average turnover of 2.9 billion rupees.

The top gainers were Commercial bank, Hatton National Bank and Melstacorp.