By Hiran H.Senewiratne
CSE trading activities were negative yesterday but shares edged up in mid-day market trade as bond yield prices came down. However, there is a significant interest in the treasury counter, market analysts said.
“In terms of the market sentiment there has been a gain and a lot of interest in the treasury counter and the prices of yields are going down. But during the latter part of the day that momentum didn’t continue and the market went down, a top analyst said.
Amid those developments both indices moved downwards. The All- Share Price Index down by 12.9 points and S and P SL20 declined by 13.9 points. Turnover stood at Rs 1.8 billion with a single crossing. The crossing was reported in Agstar PLC, which crossed two million shares to the tune of Rs 32 million and its shares traded at Rs 16.
In the retail market seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Softlogic Capital PLC Rs 604 million (36.9 million shares traded), Softlogic Life Insurance Rs 236 million (2.1 million shares traded), Lanka IOC Rs 129 million (665,000 shares traded), First Capital Holdings Rs 72.8 million (2.1 million shares traded), Browns Investments Rs 58.2 million (8.8 million shares traded), Lanka Reality Investments Rs 55.5 million (3.7 million shares traded) and Expolanka Holdings Rs 48.7 million (283,000 shares traded). During the day 95 million share volumes changed hands in 22000 transactions.
There was a lot of interest in Softlogic Life and Softlogic Capital shares. But during the latter part of the day profit- takings were noted on those counters and share prices depreciated. Softlogic Capital share price depreciated by five per cent or 90 cents. Its share price came down to Rs 15.70 from Rs 16.60. The Softlogic Life share price depreciated by five per cent or Rs 5.75. Its share price moved down to Rs 105.75 from Rs 111.50.
Yesterday, the Central Bank- announced US dollar buying price was Rs 360.05 and the selling price Rs 371.39