Trading remained desultory on the Colombo bourse yesterday with turnover down to Rs.267.5 million from the previous day’s Rs.293.7 million and both indices down though not sharply so with the All Share losing 8.31 points (0.29%) at close while the Milanka lost 10.26 points (0.31).

The CSE said that there were 51 gainers during the day against 56 losers, a better balance than on the two previous trading days.

Brokers said that turnover would have been a recent low but for a crossing of over 0.7 million NDB minutes before the market closed bringing the business volume up to a respectable level.

NDB closed Rs.5 down at Rs.175 on a trading range of Rs.175 to Rs.182 generating Rs.126.9 million of the day’s turnover.

Other counters which demonstrated some volume included Coco, Lanka Lubricants (Chevron), Lanka Cement, Browns and JKH all of which gained.

Coco was up Rs.3.75 to close at Rs.49 with slightly over 0.1 million shares done between Rs.46 and Rs.49. Chevron gained Rs.2.50 to close at Rs.208 with 20,600 shares done between Rs.205 and Rs.208.

Lanka Cement gained 75 cents to close at Rs.22 on nearly 0.2 million shares done between Rs.21 and Rs.22.50, Browns up 50 cents to Rs.66 on 58,900 shares traded between Rs.65 and Rs.66 and JKH up Rs.2 to Rs.141 on a small volume of 27,100 shares done between Rs.139.50 and Rs.141.

HNB was up Rs.2.50 to Rs.165 on a small quantity of 12,700 shares while Carsons regained some lost ground gaining Rs.4 to close at Rs.319 on 3,900 shares.

"There weren’t any major price changes although some counters dropped a little as reflected in the closing indices," a broker explained.

James Finlay announced a second interim dividend of Rs.1.50 per share for 2009 XD from December 7 with payment on December 14.

Trading in Tokyo Cement was halted pending a corporate announcement with brokers expecting a possible share split. Tokyo had gained even in the recent market downturn.