Sri Lankan shares end at record levels boosted by financials, energy

Sri Lankan shares end at record levels boosted by financials, energy

Strong gains in financial and energy stocks aided Sri Lankan shares to close at an all-time high on Monday. * The CSE All-Share index were up 0.89% at 9,709.14 points at the closing bell. * Commercial Leasing and Finance Plc and conglomerate Expolanka Holdings were top boosts to the index, rising 18% and 1.2%, respectively. * According to media reports, the Sri Lankan government has decided to obtain a loan facility of $500 million from India to purchase crude oil amid a severe foreign exchange crisis in the island nation. * On Friday evening, data from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka showed an increase of 9.2 and 6 index points in the manufacturing sector PMI and the services sector PMI, respectively, for September. * The expectations for business activities for the next 3 months rose in September following easing of travel restrictions as domestic COVID-19 cases fell, while those for manufacturing activities remain at elevated levels anticipating further improvements in economic condition. * Last week, the Sri Lankan cenbank held interest rates steady on Thursday as it sought to support economic recovery after increasing rates in August. * The equity market's turnover was 2.75 billion rupees ($13.75 million), according