Sri Lanka's main share index fell 5.5 percent this year, but ended firmer at a more than one-month high on Thursday in thin trading due to the holiday and investors awaiting the impact of a hike in commercial banks' statutory reserve ratio (SRR). Sri Lanka's central bank on Wednesday raised the SRR by 150 basis points to 7.50 percent, to stabilise a rupee hovering near record lows and slow private sector credit growth.

The main stock index recouped early losses to end 0.35 percent firmer at 6,894.50, its highest close since November 30. The index fell 5.5 percent in 2015, Thomson Reuters data showed. In terms of US dollar value, Sri Lanka's market capitalisation fell 13.9 percent, still performing better than the other stock index in Asia like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. Foreign investors bought a net 49.1 million rupees ($340,617) worth of equities.

Copyright Reuters, 2016