Bourse ends little changed; corporate earnings eyed

Reuters: Stocks closed little changed in dull trade on Monday as investors waited for earning clues from September-quarter results, brokers said.

The main stock index ended 0.06 percent, or 3.94 points, higher at 7,100, its highest close since 2 October.

Analysts said trading was dull amid uncertainty ahead of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s policy statement next month outlining his Government’s economic priorities. Turnover stood at Rs. 988.3 million ($7.06 million), compared with this year’s daily average of Rs. 1.11 billion.

Foreign investors, who have been net sellers of Rs. 2.80 billion worth of equities so far this year, bought a net Rs. 245.9 million worth of shares on Monday.

Shares of Sri Lanka Telecom Plc rose 2.12%, while Ceylon Tobacco Company Plc gained 1.06%.