Sri Lankan shares steady

Sri Lankan shares ended little changed on Thursday as gains helped by foreign buying and led by financials were offset by some large-cap consumer staples, while the market awaited directions on the macro economy. The benchmark Colombo stock index ended up 0.05 percent, or 2.97 points, at 6,417.46 in thin trade. The index touched a three-week high on Friday as investor sentiment got a boost after Sri Lanka raised $1.5 billion in its first sale of dual-tranche eurobonds last week.
The more-than $5.5 billion in offers for the issue showed that global investors were bullish about the prospects of the $82-billion economy. Turnover stood at 585.7 million rupees ($4.02 million), well below this year's daily average of around 735.9 million rupees.