CSE seen as being controlled by a few people; ‘not a proper platform to list SOEs’

By Hiran H.Senewiratne

The CSE is not a proper platform to list state owned enterprises because it’s being controlled and dominated by a few people or small groups of them. It cannot be a match for leading stock markets like the London Stock Market because it doesn’t reflect a broader perspective, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

“Either you must change or bring into being a new organization to broad base the stakeholder participation level without allowing a small set of people to control it, Wickremesinghe told an economic forum which was organized by the Advocata Institute and held at the BMICH yesterday.

The President added: “As a small country we have to be highly competitive and need to restructure state owned enterprises either by listing in the CSE or by private-public participation of SOEs. Therefore, the need of the hour is to change the CSE’s current system or set up a new organization to increase the wage level among people of the country.”

Meanwhile, the CSE was extremely bullish yesterday and was characterized by profit- takings. It is said that blue chips became the center of attraction among local and foreign investors driven by Lanka IOC, which attracted fresh buying interest due to high profit achievements, stock market analysts said.

Further, both indices moved upwards. The All- Share Price Index went up by 104.2 points and S and P SL20 rose by 43.6 points. Turnover stood at Rs 3.7 billion with one crossing. The crossing was reported in Melstacorp, which crossed 2.9 million shares to the tune of Rs 129.4 million; its shares traded at Rs 43.60.

In the retail market, seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Lanka IOC Rs 1.16 billion (ten million shares traded), Expolanka Holdings Rs 588 million (2.8 million shares traded), JKH Rs 217 million (1.8 million shares traded), Hayleys Rs 153 million (1.6 million shares traded), Browns Investments Rs 141 million (18 million shares traded), Melstacorp Rs 138 million (3.1 million shares traded) and LOLC Holdings Rs 128 million (251,000 shares traded). During the day 101.9 million share volumes changed hands in 30000 share transactions.

It is said high net worth and institutional investor participation was noted in Melstacorp, JKH and CIC Holdings. Mixed interest was observed in Expolanka Holdings, Lanka IOC and ACL Cables, while retail interest was noted in LOLC Finance, Browns Investments and Softlogic Capital. Lanka IOC and LOLC Finance were also included amongst the top turnover contributors.

Transportation sector was the second largest contributor to the market turnover (due to Expolanka Holdings) while the sector index gained 8.84 per cent.The share price of Expolanka Holdings increased by Rs 17 (8.84 per cent ) to close at Rs 209.25.

Food, Beverage and Tobacco sector was also among the highest contributors to the market turnover (due to Melstacorp and Browns Investments) while the sector index edged down by 0.11 per cent.

Further, global crude oil prices are now going down considerably. Today the Brent crude oil price is US $ 94 per barrel, while the West Texas Intermediary (WTI) rate is US $ 89. Therefore, the oil price decrease will positively impact the Sri Lanka economy, market analysts said.