Gains in consumer staples, healthcare stocks

Sri ‌Lankan shares closed higher on Wednesday, led by consumer ​staples and healthcare stocks.

The CSE All Share index settled up 0.4% at 21,166.94

SMB Finance PLC and Agstar ‌PLC were ‌the top percentage ​gainers on the CSE All ⁠Share index, rising 50% and 10.5%, respectively. *

Trading volume on the CSE All Share index fell to ⁠82.3 million shares from ‌97.1 ‌million in the ​previous session.

The equity market’s ‌turnover rose to 8.48 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($25.3 million) from 2.96 billion rupees ‌in the previous session, according to exchange data.

Foreign ⁠investors were net sellers, offloading stocks worth 4.91 billion rupees, while domestic investors were net buyers, purchasing shares worth 8.44 billion rupees, the data showed.