All Blogs
Fed chief backs US spending plan as markets clutch at latest straw
WASHINGTON, October 21, 2008 (AFP) – The head of the US Federal Reserve backed a stimulus plan for the flagging American economy, buoying stock markets despite gloomy unemployment figures and fears the rebound could be limited. Asian markets tracked gains on Wall Street, where stocks soared after Fed chief Ben Bernanke said US lawmakers should […]
Sri Lanka stocks tumble, Dialog block changes hands
Oct 20, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares fell over 1.5 percent Monday with large trades in blue chips as fears remained that foreign investors might sell and put their money in other markets that have fallen steeply, brokers said. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to […]
Southern Shipping
Oct 20, 2008 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is to invite investments from the private sector early next year to set up business in a new port being built in the southern region.Wickrema said the SLPA will invite proposals for businesses in the port such as warehousing, and cement and fertiliser manufacture. […]
State Props
PARIS, October 19, 2008 (AFP) – Nations around the world took new emergency steps Sunday to shore up the international banking system and restore investor confidence, as a yawning finance crisis continued to roil global markets. The crisis led Sunday to the ouster of the top brass at a top bank in France and prompted […]
Sri Lanka says 44 combatants killed in latest fighting
October 20, 2008 (AFP) – At least 33 Sri Lankan government soldiers and 11 Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed in the latest heavy fighting in the north of the island, the defence ministry said Monday. Government forces also suffered at least 48 soldiers wounded and another three soldiers missing in the latest battles with […]
Sri Lanka Tigers blunt military drive to capture powerbase
October 20, 2008 (AFP) – Dogged resistance by Tamil Tiger guerrillas appears to have held up a Sri Lankan military offensive in the north aimed at smashing the rebels’ de facto state, analysts and military sources say. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘act (space) lbo’ and send to 678 […]
Sri Lankan actuaries form professional body to meet growing demand
Oct 20, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan actuaries, business professionals who analyse the financial consequences of risk, have banded together to form a professional body called the Actuarial Association of Sri Lanka (AASL). It aims to popularise the profession to meet growing national demand and help with the development of the local financial services sector, […]
Sri Lanka says no EU rights probe; state help for exporters to improve productivity
Oct 20, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has rejected a European Union demand to conduct a probe on human rights and child soldiers, but will give exporters state help to tide over a shock from loss of trade concessions, a senior minister said. The European Union has asked that Sri Lanka comply with international conventions […]
India faces “temporary slowdown” from global turmoil: PM
NEW DELHI, October 20, 2008 (AFP) – India must brace itself for slower growth due to worldwide financial turmoil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned Monday, as the central bank cut a key lending rate to shore up the economy.India was experiencing the “ripple effects” of the worst financial crisis in nearly 80 years and “must […]
Societe Generale bank shares slump on recapitalisation rumours
PARIS, October 20, 2008 (AFP) – Shares in French bank Societe Generale slumped in morning trading here on Monday, showing a loss of 10.17 percent to 40.69 euros on rumours that the bank needs new capital. The shares showed a loss of about 12.0 percent at one point. The overall Paris market was showing a […]