Lanka Securities Market Round up 24 August 2015

Colombo equities plunged 1.87% or 140.08 index points on Monday to close at a 3-week low of 7,331.09, suffering its worst one day fall since February 2015. The market faced severe selling as investor’s off-loaded shares on profit taking and global growth concerns. Most of Asian markets suffered today from major losses on fears of a China-led global economic slowdown.

Todays’ losses were driven by price declines in primary blues such as John Keells Holdings (closed at LKR 183.50, -3.2%), Commercial Bank (closed at LKR 170.00, -2.9%) and Dialog Axiata (closed at LKR 11.50, -1.7%).

Daily market turnover witnessed a 3-week high of LKR 3.4bn underpinned by hefty off-thefloor trades recorded in Taprobane Holdings where 310.8mn shares traded at LKR 5.50 per share. The crossings accounted for 51% of the market turnover. As per the announcement made, Mr. I C Nanyakkara (225.9mn shares) and Ms. P S W Rupasinghe (84.9mn shares) sold aprox 31% stake of the company to C H C Investments (Pvt) Ltd.

Taprobane Holdings topped the turnover list with LKR 1.7bn followed by Commercial Bank (LKR 377mn), Hatton National Bank (LKR 119mn) and John Keells Holdings (LKR 103mn).

Other crossings were witnessed in Amana Bank (14.5mn shares at LKR 5.00 per share), Hatton National Bank (0.5mn shares at LKR 224.50 per share) and Dialog Axiata (4.5mn shares at LKR 11.50 per share). Total crossings represented 58% of the market turnover.

Out of 263 shares traded, 192 counters declined, 36 advanced while 35 counters remained unchanged. Cash map declined from 48% to 35% on heavy sell-off. Six counters advanced to 52wk high prices while six counters declined to 52wk low prices.

The market liquidity improved to a 15-month high of 391mn shares. Textured Jersey led the trades followed by Ceylon Grain Elevators, Asia Siyaka Commodities, John Keells Holdings warrant 0022 and Lanka IOC. Asia Siyaka Commodities touched a 52wk high price of LKR 3.70, +6% (closed at LKR 3.50) subsequent to the first & final dividend of LKR 0.30 per share declared on last Friday.

Excluding Ceylon Tobacco and Carson Cumberbatch all the other counters in S&P SL 20 index closed with negative returns today. Ceylon Tobacco closed in positive zone at LKR 980.00, +0.2% while Carson Cumberbatch closed with flat returns at LKR 400.00.