Sri Lankan stocks ended higher on Thursday as upbeat corporate earnings increased investor interest in blue chips and plantation stocks, but local activity was light, with the market driven by foreign trades.
The key Colombo all-share index ended up 0.23 percent, or 3.29 points, at 1,406.08, fewer than 20 points off a record closing high of 1,423.52 reached in October last year.
Total turnover was 485.7 million rupees, with 183 million rupees of foreign sales and 201 million rupees of foreign purchases.
Conglomerate John Keells Holdings Ltd rose 0.23 percent, to 109.75 rupees, a day after buying a controlling 50.3 percent stake in Mercantile Leasing Ltd, boosting its presence in the financial services sector.
The stock also saw 110 million rupees of foreign purchases and 100 million rupees of foreign sales.
Mercantile Leasing rose 0.75 percent to 33.75 rupees.
Keells had also announced a mandatory offer for the remaining shares in Mercantile Leasing at 35 rupees a share, a newspaper reported.
Plantation stocks rose 6 percent, or 13.80 points, to 243.91 on good quarterly results and retail interest.
"Plantations had a good run today and retailers picked them up looking for quick profits," said one broker.
Kotagala Plantations Ltd ended up 5.56 percent at 9.50 rupees after posting health quarterly earnings.
The broker said with good quarterly results being announced investors were anticipating bonuses or dividends from select stocks.
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