Category: Markets
Brexit vote, UK political confusion keep world and asian markets on edge
June 28 (Reuters) – Britain’s vote to leave the European Union continued to reverberate through financial markets, with the pound falling to its lowest level in 31 years, despite government attempts to relieve some of the confusion about the political and economic outlook. UK finance minister George Osborne said early Monday that the British […]
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank keeps policy rates steady
June 24, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has decided to keep its key interest rates steady for a fourth straight month on Friday, despite rising inflation and high private sector credit growth. The full text of the statement is reproduced below. Monetary Policy Review – June 2016 According to provisional estimates of the […]
‘t seek reappointment until probe over
June 24, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran has informed the Monetary Board that he will not seek a re-appointment when his term ends this month until a parliamentary probe over bond sales is complete. The Central Bank in a press release said he would not seek re-appointment until “the Parliamentary […]
Asia stocks, sterling rise as Brexit anxiety abates
June 23 (Reuters) – Asian shares edged up and sterling stood close to its peak for the year on Thursday, as investors were cautiously optimistic that British voters would opt to remain in the European Union at a referendum later in the session. Two opinion polls published late on Wednesday, a few hours before […]
Oil prices above USD50, buoyed by U.S. stock draw
June 22 (Reuters) – Oil prices rose in early Asian trading on Wednesday, with U.S. crude joining Brent above $50 a barrel after data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) showed a larger than expected draw on stocks. U.S. crude futures’ August contract, the new front month from Wednesday, had climbed 35 cents to $50.20 […]
Opportunities for value investors, rate hikes limited: JB Securities
June 22, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s equity market offers opportunities for value investors as market multiples have contracted, JB Securities says in their latest research report. Although the economy is forecast to grow 4.5 percent in 2016, compared with 4.8 percent last year, further increases in interest rates are likely limited to 25 basis […]
Sri Lankan rupee 1-wk forwards fall on importer dollar demand; stocks slip
June 22 (Reuters) – Sri Lankan rupee one-week forwards fell on Wednesday on importer dollar demand amid low liquidity for the U.S. currency after Moody’s revised down its outlook on the island nation’s sovereign rating, dealers said. The local currency was also under pressure due to lack of exporter conversions, while moral suasion by […]
Sri Lanka’s debt higher than B, BB rated countries, Fitch data shows
June 21, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s current debt levels are higher than its ‘B’ median peers or the previously rated ‘BB’ median, data from the ratings agency Fitch shows. Sri Lanka’s external funding requirement too is high compared to peers, although it performs better in certain governance metrics and HDI indices. Supporting the rating, […]
Asia shares pause, sterling stands tall as Brexit vote looms
June 21 (Reuters) – Asian shares got off to a tentative start on Tuesday, as investors paused after a rally triggered by growing expectations that British voters will opt to remain in the European Union in this week’s referendum. Two of the latest polls released over the weekend showed the “Remain” camp in the […]
Sri Lankan rupee 1-wk forwards weaker on importer dlr demand
June 20 (Reuters) – Sri Lankan rupee one-week forwards traded weaker on Monday due to importer dollar demand while dealers said the rupee was under pressure due to lack of exporter dollar conversions amid moral suasion by the central bank . One-week dollar/rupee forwards, which have been acting as a proxy for the spot rupee […]
Asia stocks gain as Brexit fears ebb slightly, pound surges
June 20 (Reuters) – Asian stocks gained early on Monday as rising expectations of Britain voting to remain in the European Union lifted risk sentiment and the pound jumped against its peers. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 0.4 percent. Japan’s Nikkei climbed 1.5 percent, helped by a retreat in the recently […]
Asian shares face weekly losses, sterling rebounds in Brexit turmoil
TOKYO, June 17 (Reuters) – Asian shares rose on Friday, but remained on track for weekly losses in a week dominated by fears that British voters will opt to leave the European Union in next week’s referendum. Campaigning for the upcoming vote, which overshadowed this week’s central bank meetings, was temporarily halted after a […]