Financials and consumer staples stocks lift Sri Lankan shares higher

Sri Lanka’s CSE All-Share ended Friday at 21,239.65, gaining 0.5% as financial and consumer-staples shares supported the market, Business Recorder reported. The index has now advanced for four sessions in a row. Carson Cumberbatch PLC rose 9.4%, while Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC and Hatton National Bank added 1.8% and 1%, respectively.

Activity was lower: trading volume dropped to 112 million shares from 253.3 million in the prior session, while turnover declined to 2.89 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($8.69 million) from 5.43 billion rupees. Exchange data also showed foreign investors sold a net 197.2 million rupees of shares, whereas domestic investors bought a net 2.87 billion rupees. The report points to a rising index alongside lighter trading and contrasting foreign and local investor flows.