With investors, both local and foreign, continuing to remain in a negative frame of mind, a dull day of trading was witnessed at the Colombo Stock Exchange on Tuesday, a Bartleet Mallory Stockbrokers (Pvt.) Ltd., report said. Both indices witnessed relatively sharp declines as selling pressure mounted and investors being reluctant to pick up stocks at current prices. The ASPI depreciated by as much as 3.4 points for the day while the more sensitive MPI fell by 12.3 points to close at 493.5 points and 803.7 points respectively. Trading remained thin all day with market turnover totalling a mere Rs. 16.70 million, the lowest turnover level so far for the month. However, price advances outnumbered declines by a 28 to 21 margin.

Foreigners also remained on the quiet side with foreign purchases and sales accounting for 5% and 13% of market turnover. Foreign purchases were seen in John Keells Holdings (JKH) and Lanka Walltiles shares, while Caltex Lubricants, Seylan Bank and Sampath Bank were the contributors to foreign sales. A net foreign outflow of Rs. 1.4 million was recorded for the day. Sectorally, there were gains seen in five sector indices with the Investment Trust sector index witnessing the sharpest rise. There were as many as six sector indices that declined with the Banks Finance and Insurance sector index witnessing the biggest drop.