PHOTO
A broker looks at a computer screen showing the movement of the market since the morning opening, at the Colombo Stock Exchange in Sri Lanka March 9, 2016. Image used for illustrative purpose only. Dinuka Liyanawatte, Reuters
Sri Lankan shares closed higher on Friday, aided by gains in financials stocks. * The CSE All Share index settled up 0.26% at 10,654.16, snapping two consecutive weeks of losses. * The country's key inflation rate in December accelerated to 4% from 3.4% in November, the statistics department said on Friday. * LOLC Finance and LOLC Holdings were the top gainers on the CSE All Share, rising 6.8% and 2.2%, respectively. * Trading volume on the CSE All Share index rose to 29.2 million shares from 26.7 million in the previous session. * The equity market's turnover rose to 642.4 million Sri Lankan rupees ($2 million) from 471.6 million rupees in the previous session, according to exchange data. * Foreign investors were net buyers, purchasing stocks worth 62.3 million rupees, while domestic investors were net sellers, offloading shares worth 601.2 million rupees, the data showed. * For a report on global markets, click ($1 = 323.8000 Sri Lankan rupees) (Reporting by Kashish Tandon in Bengaluru;Editing by Ravi Prakash Kumar)
