Jan 04, Colombo: Sri Lanka stocks slipped slightly today in light trading on the second trading day of the New Year as losses in blue chips wiped off the gains in second tier shares. Trading volumes remained low as most investors remained on the sidelines.

The main Colombo All Share Price Index fell by 0.91 points or 0.03% to close at 2,744.71 while the more volatile and highly capitalized Milanka Price Index gained 0.99 points or 0.03% to close at 3,761.14. The turnover ended at 290.3 million rupees while the trading volume was low at 7.1 million shares.

Conglomerate John Keells Holdings dominated the turnover with 43.2 million rupees trading 222,600 shares flat at 194.25 rupees, down by 0.38%. Market heavyweight Dialog Telekom fell 0.93% to close at 26.75 rupees trading 297,500 shares while fixed-line operator Sri Lanka Telecom rose 0.88% to 28.50 rupees trading 475,600 shares. Nations Trust Bank rose 7.83% to 31.00 rupees trading 1.32 million shares while Indian fuel subsidiary, Lanka IOC lost 0.91% to close at 27.75 rupees.

Other major contributors to the turnover included ACL Cables (182,800), Touchwood (163,000), CIC - Non Voting (297,800), Pelwatte Sugar (233,900), Lanka Milk Foods (136,400), CF Venture Fund (146,200), Tokyo Cement - Non Voting (115,100), Vallible Power (1,021,800), Nawaloka Hospitals (237,900) and Tess Agro (516,700).

Most sectors remained flat today while Information Technology sector posted a significant loss of 4.69%. Power and Energy and Healthcare sectors posted losses above a percent.

Alufab gained 2.25 rupees or 8.91% to top the gainer’s list. The other top gainers included Nations Trust Bank (7.83%), Bairaha Farms (7.14%), CF Venture Fund (6.56%) and People's Merchant Bank (5.43%).

Keells Foods lost 3.75 rupees or 8.33% placing it at the top of the loser’s list. The other top losers included Blue Diamonds – non voting (-7.69%), Mullers (-7.69%), Mahaweli Reach Hotel (-6.98%) and Associated Electrical Corporation (-6.67%).

Rupee slipped against the dollar today according to the Central Bank figures buying at 107.14 rupees and selling at 108.30. City Bank Card, Chase low rate loan, American Express