The Colombo bourse edged down yesterday although brokers were happy about the activity levels noting that the turnover was satisfactory although lower than the previous day when big trades in the Commercial Bank were concluded.

There was substantial interest in several plantation shares, Sigiriya Village and Dockyard with retail interest evident, brokers said.

The All Share Price Index declined 2.49 points (0.10%) while the Milanka was down 14.48 points (0.55%) with a turnover of Rs.302.9 million posted for the day, down from Rs.439.6 million the previous day.

"There was a little more interest overall mostly on the retail side," Prashan Fernando of Acuity Stockbrokers said. "The previous day’s turnover was higher on account of a large quantity of Commercial Bank being sold by the Bank of Ceylon."

JKH was yesterday’s biggest turnover generator gaining 25 cents to close at Rs.129.75 on over 0.4 million shares done between Rs.129.50 and Rs.131 contributing Rs.57.1 million to turnover.

Yesterday’s trading in this counter was a mix of retail and high net worth activity with many parcels in the hundreds and 10,000 and over reported.

Pan Asia Bank continued to attract substantial interest with nearly 2.5 million shares done between Rs.15.75 and Rs.16.75 with the share gaining 25 cents to close at Rs.15.75 contributing Rs.39.3 million to turnover. Here too retail interest was evident.

Dockyard too saw nearly 0.3 million shares traded gaining a rupee to close at Rs.109.50 on a trading range of Rs.108 and Rs.111 while Sigiriya Village with over 0.5 million shares done gained Rs.4.50 to close at Rs.37 with trades between Rs.33 and Rs.33.25.

Lanka Cement lost 25 cents to close at Rs.28.50 on a trading range of Rs.28.25 to Rs.29.50 on over 0.5 million shares done while Bogawantalawa Plantations and Hotel Developers appreciated sharply on respectable volumes.

Bogawantalawa gained Rs.7 to close at Rs.44 on over 0.2 million shares done between Rs.36 and Rs.44 while Hotel Developers, owners of the Colombo Hilton, was up Rs.6.50 to close at Rs.115 on 74,900 shares done.

Commercial Bank closed flat at Rs.132.50 on 54,800 shares traded between Rs.132.25 and Rs.133 with brokers saying that it had held its price line with the big trade of a million shares on Wednesday being priced at Rs.133.

In addition to Bogawantalawa, plantation stocks like Balangoda, Namunukula, Madulsima, Agalawatte and Maskeliya gained yesterday on substantial volumes.