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Sri Lankan stocks edge up as foreign investors return

March 14, 2018 00:00:00


COLOMBO, Mar 13 (Reuters): Sri Lankan shares rose slightly on Tuesday and posted their highest close in nearly two weeks as investors picked up beverage and telecom stocks, and foreign investors returned to the market following a communal violence last week, dealers said.

Foreign investors bought a net 1.2 billion rupees ($7.71 million) worth of shares, extending the year-to-date net foreign inflow to 7.3 billion rupees worth of equities.

Analysts said local and foreign investors returned to the market a week after a wave of anti-Muslim attacks by Sinhalese Buddhist hardliners in the central highlands district of Kandy.

The Colombo stock index ended 0.11 per cent firmer at 6,554.83.

"It is a positive sign that both locals and foreigners are buying after a long wait," said Dimantha Mathew, head of research, First Capital Holdings.

Turnover was 2.5 billion rupees on Tuesday, the highest since February 26 and more than double of this year's daily average of around 960.4 million rupees.


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