Category: Markets
Another cash call – DFCC to tap the markets for Rs7.6bn in strikingly low priced rights issue
March 6, 2019 (LBO) – DFCC became the latest major bank in Sri Lanka to tap the capital markets in an aggressive rights issue. The bank aims too raise Rs7.6bn in new equity with the rights issue priced at Rs72/share. Pricing is close to the current trading price in the market of Rs75/share, but much […]
Rock bottom Rs12bn rights issue pricing crashes Sampath Bank (SAMP) shares
March 1, 2019 (LBO) – Shares on the Colombo Stock Exchange were weaker across the board with Sampath Bank (SAMP) shares having their worst trading day in recent memory.Two hours into the trading day, shares of SAMP were off close to 16% with just Rs85mn worth of shares traded. The broader market indices were down […]
IMF reaches understanding at staff level to extend EFF for an additional year
Mar 01, 2019 (LBO) – A staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached an understanding at the staff level with the Sri Lankan authorities on the fifth review and the request to extend the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement for an additional year. Accordingly, the remaining disbursements will be evenly spread over this […]
Sri Lanka stocks wake up with net foreign buying
February 28, 2019 (LBO) – The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) awakened from its slumber with trading crossing the Rs2bn mark (US$11mn) after many days of dull trading. Stocks finished the day slightly up with trading activity across the board. Foreigners were significant net buyers with net foreign buying of Rs500mn on the day. Foreign buying of […]
Inflation likely to remain in 4 – 6 percent range in 2019: Central Bank projections
Feb 22, 2019 (LBO) – Projections of the Central Bank indicates that inflation is likely to remain in the desired 4 – 6 percent range in 2019 and beyond. Headline inflation and core inflation increased in January 2019 mainly due to the increase in non-food inflation driven by higher expenditure on certain items such as […]
Central Bank decides to reduce SRR & keep policy rates unchanged
Feb 22, 2019 (LBO) – The Monetary Board of the Central Bank, at its meeting held on 21 February 2019, has decided to reduce the Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) applicable on all rupee deposit liabilities of commercial banks by 1.00 percentage point to 5.00 percent with effect from 01 March 2019. The Board also decided to […]
World Bank Vice President arrives in Sri Lanka to support country’s reform plans
Feb 13, 2019 (LBO) – The World Bank Vice President for the South Asia Region, Hartwig Schafer arrived today on his first visit to Sri Lanka to gain a better understanding of the country’s development priorities and how the Bank can continue to support its critical reform agenda. “Sri Lanka has made good progress in reducing […]
Sri Lanka stocks wake up, foreigners active but still net sellers
February 11, 2018 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan stock market has at least for today, awoken from its seemingly endless slumber. The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) recorded unusually heavy trading on the day with Rs3.3bn (USmn) worth of trading turnover.Foreigners were unusually active, perhaps as a result of Sri Lanka’s stabilising currency. The Sri Lankan […]
Sri Lanka official reserves down to USD 6.1 billion by end January: Central Bank
Feb 08, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets were 6.14 billion US dollars by the end of January this year, down from 6.92 billion US dollars by December last year, latest Central Bank data showed. By the end of January, the reserve position in the IMF was 67.0 billion dollars, SDRs were 1.25 billion, […]
SEC charges a person before Magistrate for failing to appear when summoned
Feb 07, 2019 (LBO) – Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka has charged a person named Vidanalage Juvenal Aruna Melan Soysa at Fort Magistrate Court on 25th January 2019. The person has been charged for not appearing before the SEC when he was summoned to record a statement with respect to certain transactions that […]
CINV and GUAR considering options to wind up The Sri Lanka Fund
Feb 05, 2019 (LBO) – Ceylon Guardian Investment Trust PLC (GUAR) and Ceylon Investment PLC (CINV) has decided to consider options of winding up The Sri Lanka Fund, an open-ended fund incorporated in the Cayman Islands, denominated in US dollars. The fund was relaunched in August 2010 under the management of Guardian Fund Management Limited (GFM) […]
‘s shareholding in JKH approaching 10%, stake valued at close to Rs20bn
February 5, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s richest man, Harry Jayawardena, has increased his shareholding in Colombo Stock Exchange bellwether John Keells Holdings (JKH) to near 10%. The total value of his shareholding is now worth close to Rs20bn.As of December 31, 2018, Jayawardena’s Melstacorp PLC owned 8.4% of JKH. After the quarter ended, the […]