Shares extend losing streak to 5 sessions

Sri ‌Lankan shares closed slightly lower, extending losses to a fifth ​straight session and posting a weekly decline, as losses in utilities and IT stocks countered gains in energy and financials.

The CSE All ‌Share index ‌settled down ​0.07% ‌at 21,744.13, ⁠losing ​2.6% during ⁠the week.

Lake House Printers and Paragon Ceylon PLC were the top percentage losers on the CSE All Share index, falling 5.5% and ⁠3.6%, respectively.

Trading volume ‌on ‌the CSE All Share ​index fell ‌to 112.6 million shares from ‌123.2 million in the previous session.

The equity market’s turnover rose to 2.98 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($8.90 million) from 2.79 billion rupees in the previous session, according to exchange data.

Foreign investors were net buyers, purchasing stocks worth 172.5 million rupees, while domestic investors were net sellers, offloading shares worth 2.92 billion rupees, the data showed.