The Colombo bourse closed the week yesterday on what brokers called "a very quiet note" with turnover falling to Rs.325.6 million from the previous day’s Rs.353.2 million, the All Share Price Index closing almost flat (down a fraction of a point) while the Milanka was down 11.30 points (0.34%).

"It was a very quiet day although sentiment improved during the last hour of trading with buyers coming in but no sellers," Prashan Fernando of Acuity Stockbrokers said.

Lanka Lubricants (Caltex) which had declared a third interim dividend of Rs.4 per share on October 22 was the biggest turnover generator for the day gaining 25 cents to close at Rs.122.75 on nearly 0.2 million shares traded contributing Rs.30.4 million to business volumes.

Brokers said that the bigger parcels of this stock done during the day included 37,500 shares at Rs.182 and 22,500 shares at Rs.182.75.

Haycarb which has announced an excellent second quarter closed Rs.9 up to Rs.101 on nearly 0.3 million shares traded between Rs.90 and Rs.101 generating the second highest turnover of Rs.27.5 million.

Renuka Holdings was up Rs.2.75 to close at Rs.93 on 0.2 million shares traded between Rs.92 and Rs.100. The two big parcels of this stock done during the day of 125,000 and 100,000 shares were transacted at Rs.100 brokers said.

Commercial Bank trading XD lost Rs.1.25 to close at Rs.179 on over 0.1 million shares done between Rs.175 and Rs.179.

Among the other banking stock, NTB was up 75 cents to Rs.37.50 on nearly 0.5 million shares and Seylan X up 25 cents to Rs.17.75 on over 0.9 million shares. Pan Asia too gained 25 cents to close at Rs.21.50 on over 0.2 million shares.

JKH gained 25 cents to close at Rs.142.25 on nearly 0.1 million shares.

"The market was down around five points most of the day," Fernando of Acuity said.

Colombo Investment Trust and Colombo Fort Investments announced a first and final dividends of Re.1 per share XD from Dec. 15 and payment on Dec. 23.

Asiri Hospitals PLC announced that its board of directors had resolved at a meeting held on Wednesday to recommend to shareholders to sub-divide each existing ordinary share to 10 ordinary shares raising the number of shares in issue from 88.9 million to 889.26 million with the sub-division not resulting in an increase in the company’s stated capital.

This is subject to shareholder approval by way of a special resolution at an EGM.

Asiri also announced that a loan and accrued interest of Rs.129.1 million granted to Central Hospitals (Pvt) Limited will be converted into ordinary shares of that company.

Following this allotment, Asiri owns 14.2% of Central Hospitals with the other two major shareholders being Asiri Central Hospitals PLC (70.7%) and Asiri Surgical Hospitals PLC (15.1%).