Shares extend winning streak to 15 sessions

Sri Lankan shares closed higher for the 15th successive session on Monday, led by utilities and information technology stocks.

The CSE All-Share index rose 0.31% to 22,163.23.

The index closed at a record for a 9th straight session.

SMB Finance PLC and Industrial Asphalts (Ceylon) PLC were the biggest boosts to the CSE All-Share index, gaining 33.33% and 25%, respectively.

Trading volume fell to 247.1 million shares from 439.5 million shares in the previous session.

The equity market’s turnover fell to 7.95 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($26.29 million), compared with 9.76 billion rupees in the previous session, according to exchange data.

Foreign investors were net sellers, offloading stocks worth 606.4 million rupees, while domestic investors were net buyers, purchasing shares worth 7.57 billion rupees, the data showed.