Shares end at record highs as financials gain

REUTERS: Sri Lankan shares closed at record highs yesterday, helped by gains in financial and industrial stocks.

The CSE All-share index settled 1.06 percent higher at 9,542.33. Last week, the index rose 5.62 percent to register its second straight weekly gain.

Commercial Leasing and Finance PLC and Royal Ceramics Lanka were among the top performers on the index, gaining 18.4 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively.

The equity market’s turnover was about Rs.3.62 billion (US $ 18.19 million), according to stock exchange data.

Trading volume on the exchange fell to 228 million shares from 520 million shares in the previous session.

Foreign investors were net sellers in the equity market, offloading shares worth about Rs.60.9 million, as per exchange data.