Sri Lanka tops Asian stock markets’ 2009 performance

Sri Lankan shares ended 2009 with a stellar 125 percent rally, the market’s best performance in more than a decade and far ahead of other strong performers such as Indonesia, Indiaand China.

The recovery in stock markets after last year’s crisis-driven plunges saw Indiaand Indonesia post their biggest annual gains in a decade, driven in part by foreign money seeking Asia’s relatively stronger balance-sheets, higher yields and growth potential.

The MSCI index of Asia Pacific stocks traded outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS has risen nearly 70 percent in 2009, its best performance since 1993 and far outpacing expected gains of just over 20 percent in U.S. and European equities.

Following are Asian stock markets’ moves over full year 2009. Data as of 0730 GMT, Thursday.

MARKET                               Index level   % gain

 Sri Lanka (Colombo All-share)  .CSE   3385.55       125.3

 Indonesia (JSX)               .JKSE   2534.36        87

 India (Sensex)               .BSESN  17478.78        81.2

 China (Shanghai Composite)    .SSEC   3277.14        80

 Taiwan (Taiex)                .TWII   8188.11        78.3

 Singapore (FT Straits Times) .FTSTI   2897.62        64.5

 Thailand (SET)                .SETI    734.54        63.3

 Philippines (PHS Composite)    .PSI   3052.68        63.0

 Pakistan (Karachi 100)         .KSE   9475.24        61.7

 Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh)          .VNI    494.77        56.8

 Hong Kong (Hang Seng)          .HSI  21872.5         52.0

 South Korea (KOSPI)           .KS11   1682.77        49.7

 Malaysia (KLSE Composite)             1269.89        44.8

 Australia (S&P/ASX 200)               4870.64        30.9

 Tokyo (Nikkei average)        .N225  10546.44        19.0

 New Zealand (NZX 50)          .NZ50   3230.15        18.9







^Reuters

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