Reuters: Shares bounced back to close at a record high on Wednesday, led by gains in financial and industrials stocks as the nation prepares for a vaccination drive against COVID-19.

The benchmark stock index ended 1.69% higher at 8,812.01 – a record closing high – having slipped 0.33% in the previous session. The index is up 30% so far in 2021.

Sri Lanka will buy two-three million doses of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India in the next two days, a Government adviser said on Wednesday.

The country’s vaccination program is set to begin tomorrow, according to reports.

Trading volume on the CSE All Share Index fell to 497.4 million from 828.7 million in the previous session.

Conglomerates LOLC and Vallibel One were the top boosts to the benchmark, gaining 25% each.

Foreign investors were net sellers, offloading Rs. 1.56 billion ($8.1 million) worth of shares, according to exchange data.

The rupee was quoted at 192.25 against the dollar as of 1220 GMT, 1.4% stronger for the day compared with the previous close of 195, according to Refinitiv data.

Equity market turnover was Rs. 14.41 billion, exchange data showed.

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