The bull run on the Colombo Stock Exchange continued yesterday on a turnover of Rs.3.31 billion, up from the previous day’s Rs.2.83 billion, with both indices moving sharply – the All Share by 65.09 points (1.45%) and the Milanka by 44.79 points (0.87%) with the blue chips and banking stock generating hefty business volumes.

"It’s being one straight run with day-on-day gains barring a few exceptions," Prashan Fernando of Acuity Stockbrokers said. "There was heavy retail activity on Seylan Bank’s non-voting and voting shares."

Gainers outpaced losers by 83 to 58, CSE figures indicated.

Seylan X led the turnover league with nearly 8.7 million shares done between Rs.42.25 and Rs.46.50 closing Rs.2 up at Rs.44, contributing Rs.388.8 million to the day’s business volume.

Distilleries with over 2.8 million shares done between Rs.123 and Rs.129 gained Rs.4.50 to close at Rs.127.50 generating an Rs.354.9 million turnover.

"There was a string of crossings on this stock at a price of Rs.126," Fernando of Acuity said.

JKH closed over the Rs.200 mark with over 1.6 million shares, including three crossings at Rs.199, traded between Rs.192.25 and Rs.201. The counter was up Rs.1.75 to close at Rs.200.25 generating a turnover of Rs.325.1 million.

First Capital Holdings, connected to the Janashakthi group, also saw a massive 13.9 million shares traded between Rs.19.75 and Rs.21.25 gaining 50 cents to close at Rs.20.75. There were 14 crossings in this share at a price of Rs.20.

Aitken Spence, Hayleys and Commercial Bank were other blue chips that saw big volumes yesterday with all three counters gaining. Spence was the biggest gainer, up Rs.29.50 to Rs.1,600 on over 0.1 million shares while Hayleys was up Rs.4.75 to Rs.310 on nearly 0.6 million shares and ComBank up 50 cents to Rs.280 on over 0.6 million shares.

Seylan Bank with nearly 1.2 million shares traded between Rs.67 and Rs.70.25 gained Rs.2.50 to close at Rs.68.50 while Ceylon Theatres was up Rs.5.25 to close at Rs.105 on nearly 0.7 million shares.

HNB lost Rs.2.25 to close at Rs.292 on 0.2 million shares while HNB X closed at Rs.203.50 on nearly 0.3 million shares.

Hemas Holdings was a big gainer, up Rs.13.25 to Rs.174.50 on nearly 0.3 million shares, while Dankotuwa Porcelain, with the future of the company uncertain, saw heavy trading with nearly 3.6 million shares transacted. The counter slumped to a day’s low of Rs.9 but closed at Rs.13.50, down Rs.3.75 from the previous close, posting a high of Rs.14.75 yesterday.

Other banking stocks that showed volume were NTB (over 0.7 million shares) up 75 cents to close at Rs.48.25 while the DFCC gained Rs.6.25 to close at Rs.268 on over 0.1 million shares.

Cargills was up Rs.11 to Rs.144.50 on over 0.2 million shares.