COLOMBO: Sri Lankan shares on Friday hit their lowest close in more than a month, dragged down by telecom stocks, while investor sentiment continued to remain low on concerns about rising interest rates. The Colombo stock index ended down 0.06 percent at 6,084.99, its lowest since Feb. 6. It shed 0.27 percent during the week, posting its third straight weekly decline. Foreign investors were net buyers for the eighth straight session on Friday, purchasing shares worth 174.96 million rupees ($1.16 million), and extending the year-to-date net foreign inflow to 2.12 billion rupees worth of equities.
Turnover was 711 million rupees, more than this year’s daily average turnover of 690.1 million rupees. “Foreigners are the only people active in the market these days as not a lot of activities are taking place,” said Dimantha Mathew, head of research, First Capital Equities (Pvt) Ltd. “The market is slowly coming down with rising rates and economic uncertainty.” Traders said there were concerns after the International Monetary Fund urged Sri Lanka’s central bank to be ready to tighten monetary policy if credit growth or inflation does not abate. Shares of Dialog Axiata Plc dropped 0.89 percent, while Commercial Leasing and Fiance Plc plunged 10.71 percent and conglomerate John Keells Holdings dropped 0.14 percent. Yields on treasury bills have risen to a more-than-four-year high since October, while the central bank has kept the key policy rates on hold.
