Colombo Stocks up on blue-chip buying; foreigners exit

Colombo stocks ended firmer on Thursday as investors picked up the bluechip shares to push the most liquid share index to record high, brokers said. Colombo’s main, All Share Price Index (ASPI) ended 2.78 percent or 129.58 points up at 4,784.80. The S&P SL20 Index of more liquid stocks rose 6.98 percent or 132.90 points to 2,037.04. The S&P SL20 Index on Thursday recorded the highest ever daily percentage gain. The market turnover was 2.3 billion rupees. Foreign investors were net sellers worth of 1.26 billion rupees shares on Thursday. Meanwhile, rupee currency traded firmer on Thursday with the US dollar selling rate was at 189.25 rupees against Wednesday's 189.60 rupees mainly because of the drop in imports due to heavy import controls and coronavirus pandemic.