Sri Lankan shares closed higher on Thursday, helped by gains in consumer discretionary and financial stocks.
* The CSE All-Share index CSELK:ASI rose 0.91% to 20,965.26, gaining for a third straight session.
* Hunter & Company PLC CSELK:HUNT.N0000 and Bansei Royal Resorts Hikkaduwa PLC CSELK:BRR.N0000 were the top percentage gainers on the index, up 23.7% and 15%, respectively.
* Trading volume on the index rose to 254.6 million shares from 238.8 million shares in the previous session.
* The equity market's turnover rose to 6.86 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($22.7 million) from 6.61 billion rupees, according to exchange data.
* Foreign investors were net sellers, offloading stocks worth 606.7 million rupees, while domestic investors were net buyers, purchasing shares worth 6.74 billion rupees, data showed.
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($1 = 302.0000 Sri Lankan rupees)