The Colombo bourse yesterday closed virtually flat with both the All Share and Milanka price indices gaining marginally – the All Share by 1.58 points (0.06%) and the Milanka by 3.39 points (0.12%0) on a turnover of Rs.333.6 million, down from the previous day’s Rs.366 million with JKH being the most traded stock for the day.

"It was relatively a quiet day with the market virtually flat throughout," Prashan Fernando of Acuity Stockbrokers said. "Given that there were two large JKH parcels of 428,000 each and two more of 110,500 each, all at a price of Rs.133.50, foreigners seemed interested in this stock."

JKH traded between Rs.133 and Rs.134.50 gaining a rupee to close at Rs.134.50 and contributing Rs.115.1 million to the day’s turnover.

Fernando of Acuity said that warrants of Environmental Resources (Walker & Greig) both for 2010 and 2011 began trading yesterday demonstrating substantial volumes of 2.8 million and slightly over 2.4 million for the two maturities. These warrants closed at Rs.12.50 and Rs.13.50.

Environmental Resources itself also saw nearly 0.6 million shares done between Rs.35 and Rs.37.50 declining 25 cents to close at Rs.36.

Interest in hotel stock waned although Mahaweli Reach Hotels saw over 0.3 million shares traded between Rs.18.50 and Rs.19.25 losing 50 cents to close at Rs.19. There were two parcels of 306,100 transacted at Rs.18.50 among the quantity traded.

Bukit Darah was the day’s top gainer with the illiquid share up Rs.32.75 to Rs.1,550 on a small quantity of 400 shares while CTC Eagle too gained Rs.10 to close at Rs.170 on 18,900 shares.

Lanka Aluminium Industries announced a first and final dividend of Rs.0.75 per share for 2008/09 XD from September 30 and payment on October 8 following the September 29 AGM.