Asian Focus

LONDON, September 25, 2009 (AFP) – HSBC on Friday said its chief executive Michael Geoghegan would move to Hong Kong from London to be closer to the banking group’s “largest and most important region” of operation.HSBC, founded in Hong Kong and Shanghai in 1865, said it would remain headquartered in London and regulated by Britain, […]

Sri Lanka shares up slightly

Sept 25, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks ended marginally higher Friday with active trading in shares of Ceylinco group firms, especially Seylan Bank, but corporate and foreign participation was lower, brokers said. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 The All Share Price Index rose […]

Sri Lanka money broker in buyout

Sept 25, 2009 (LBO) – A money broking firm controlled by listed Seylan Merchant Bank, a unit of the Ceylinco group, will be sold to an investment vehicle promoted by key officials.A 51 percent stake in SMB Money Brokers (Pvt) Ltd, will be sold to ASIL Holdings, an investment vehicle, the company said in a […]

Sri Lanka to spend more than 0.5-pct of GDP on north rebuilding in 2010

Sept 24, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is expected to spend around 0.75 percent on reconstructing war-torn areas in the north and east in 2010, and it would be outside the program target agreed with the International Monetary Fund, an official said. A 20-month program agreed with the IMF in July 2008, set a target […]

England face Sri Lanka spin in opening match

JOHANNESBURG, September 24, 2009 (AFP) – Andrew Strauss’s England face a stiff spin test when they take on a confident Sri Lanka in their opening match of the Champions Trophy here on Friday. Sri Lanka have two excellent spinners in Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, capable of making life difficult for batsmen with their subtle […]

Sri Lanka power IPO gives small investors preference

Sept 24, 2009 (LBO) – Small investors who applied for up to 500 shares in an initial public offering by Sri Lanka’s Hemas Power will be given their full allotments, according to a stock exchange filing.NDB Investment Bank, which handled the issue, said they had got 2,582 applications up to and inclusive of 500 shares […]

Sri Lanka Hayleys ups stake in fabric unit

Sept 24, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hayleys group said it has increased control of its fabric manufacturing unit, Hayleys-MGT Knitting Mills, after a mandatory offer to buy up shares of other shareholders. The firm said earlier that independent advice provided by Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka on the mandatory offer has found the price […]

Coming Back

Sept 24, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has allowed the island’s former Treasury Secretary to return to public service from which he was ousted by court, lawyers said.In 2008 a three judge bench headed by former Chief Justice Sarath Silva faulted Jayasundara over the privatization of a ship fuel or bunkering monopoly.Former Treasury […]

Sri Lanka August tea output down 5.3-pct

Sept 24, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s production of black tea in August 2009 fell 5.3 percent to 23.9 million kilos from a year ago, with the shortfall coming from the high and mid-grown elevations, according to the Sri Lanka Tea Board. But production of low grown teas, which make up the bulk of the […]

Reaching Out

Sept 24, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s NDB Bank said it plans to open five branches in the north and east regions which are recovering after the end of the island’s ethnic war.“Communities across the north and east now have a rare opportunity to rebuild their lives, reconstruct their homes, sustain a livelihood, pursue their […]

Sri Lankan shares close down 0.83-pct

Sep 24, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed down on Thursday as investors took profits from hotel and banking sector stocks, although renewed confidence in the economy after a war is expected to drive shares back up, brokers said. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to […]

Sri Lanka still has room for foreigners to buy bonds: CB Governor

Sept 24, 2009 (LBO) – A limit of 10 percent of outstanding government bonds remains in place, and foreign investors still have room to buy Sri Lanka government bonds, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said.“The limits remains the same,” Governor Cabraal said. “There is no change. “The borrowings will take place as and when the […]

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