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 marginally higher on Thursday, aided by gains in consumer staples and industrial stocks.
* The CSE All Share index settled up a modest 0.09% at 11,444.38.
* Sri Lanka's key inflation rate fell to 0.9% year-on-year in March from 5.9% in February, the statistics department said on Thursday.
* John Keells Holdings PLC and Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC were the top gainers on the CSE All Share, rising 1.17% and 2.39%, respectively.
* Trading volume on the CSE All Share index rose to 98.7 million shares from 88.9 million in the previous session.
* The equity market's turnover rose to 2.96 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($9.9 million) from 1.89 billion rupees in the previous session, according to exchange data.
* Foreign investors were net buyers, purchasing stocks worth 267.1 million rupees, while domestic investors were net sellers, offloading shares worth 2.78 billion rupees, the data showed.
* For a report on global markets, click ($1 = 300.3000 Sri Lankan rupees) (Reporting by Varun Hebbalalu in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)
