Author: lbostgadmin
‘s AirAsia cuts pre-booked meal prices
Mar 01, 2012 (LBO) – AirAisa, a Malaysia based budget carrries said it had cut in-flight meals as much as 30 percent in the wake of a cut in check-in baggage fees two weeks earlier. “AirAsia always strives to listen to our guests, and take into account their feedback on how we can make their […]
Asset Quality
Mar 01, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Sampath Bank said December 2011 quarter net profit fell 34 percent from a year ago but a rapid growth in staff and branches should help boost profits in future despite falling interest margins. He said 78 percent of the bank’s funding was generated from deposits compared with an […]
Sri Lanka shares end up 0.2-pct
Mar 01, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed firmer Thursday with big deals in Hayleys and LB Finance pushing up turnover, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index closed up 0.21 percent (11.59 points) at 5,469.68, while the more liquid Milanka index rose 0. 26 percent (12.13 points) to close at 4,763.19. Turnover […]
Sri Lanka caps forex forward deals to 90-days
March 01, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank has capped forward foreign exchange deals with the rupee to 90 days to reduce speculation Governor Nivard Cabraal said. “It will reduce speculation overall,” Cabraal said. Sri Lanka reduced interventions in forex markets on February 09, allowing the exchange rate to be market determined and said […]
Sri Lanka taking corrective steps to fix imbalances: economists
Feb 29, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has taken delayed corrective steps to counter a balance of payments crisis triggered by a credit bubble worsened by energy price manipulation and state enterprise losses, but more pain may be ahead, economists warned. In 2011 Sri Lanka saw a surge in private sector credit fired by extended […]
Sri Lanka policy changes to bolster external position: Fitch
Feb 29, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s external finances are under pressure but recent policy changes could bolster the balance of payments even if they hurt growth, Fitch Ratings said. Analysts have pointed out that Sri Lanka is vulnerable to oil prices because the state manipulates energy prices and there is no mechanism to quickly […]
Sri Lanka sovereign rating outlook lowered by S&P
Feb 29, 2012 (LBO) – Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has lowered its outlook on Sri Lanka’s ‘B+’ long-term foreign currency sovereign credit rating to stable from positive because of falling foreign reserves and fiscal problems. The rating agency at the same time downgraded Sri Lanka’s long-term local currency rating to ‘B+’ from ‘BB-‘, while […]
‘s inflation eases to 2.7-pct in Feb
Feb 29, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s consumer prices rose 2.7 percent in the 12-months to February 2012, easing from 3. 8 percent in January, though the index gained 0.4 percent in the month, the state statistics office said. Interest rates have since risen. Sri Lanka’s inflation remained low by historic standards despite a steep […]
Margin Squeeze
Feb 29, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’ Hatton National Bank group December 2011 profits rose 21 percent from a year earlier to 2. 254 rupees helped by lower tax charges though core banking margins tightened, accounts showed. The bank reported earnings of 5.80 rupees for the quarter. For the year ending December it reported earnings […]
Buying Access
Feb 29, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Access Engineering bought 60 percent of vehicle importer Sathosa Motors from Japan’s Itochu Corp. for 846 million rupees paying 235 rupees a share, its chairman Sumal Perera said. “We believe there will be steady growth in the commercial vehicle and construction machinery business in the coming years. ” […]
Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.4-pct
Feb 29, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stock closed up 0.49 percent Wednesday, with turnover boosted by the change of control of motor dealers, though market participants are still getting used to a new trading system, brokers said. The Colombo All Share Index rose 0. 49 percent to 5,458.09 points up 26.42 points while the […]
”
Feb 29, 2012 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has lowered Lanka Orix Leasing Company’s rating from ‘A-(lka)’ to ‘BBB+(lka)’ with a negative outlook with a similar cut in outstanding senior unsecured debentures. The rating is still in the investment grade. Fitch said the downgrade came from a “higher appetite for market risks” at the holding […]