Category: Economy and Markets
Losing Interest
The Central Bank on Friday cut key interest rates by 75 basis points on Friday.The bank lowered the Reverse Repurchase Rate to 10.25%, while the Repurchase Rate was cut to 8.25%. The bank last cut rates by 75 basis points on January 7.rn rnThe Reverse Repo-rate is the rate at which Primary Dealers in Treasury […]
Lower Lending
The Central Bank on Friday cut its key short-term discount rates by 75 basis points, in line with its policy of lowering rates.The bank lowered the reverse repurchase (reverse repo) rate to 10.25 percent, while the repurchase rate was cut to 8.25 percent.rn rnThe bank last cut rates by 75 basis points on January 7.rn […]
Heading Up
Treasury Bill yeilds moved up by 64 basis points at the close of this weeks auction.rnrnrnrnrnrnNew Page 1rnrnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn Amount rn Bids rn Bids rn rn rn Avg rn rn yeild rn rn rn rn offered rn recvd rn accept rn rn This wkrn rn rn Last wkrn […]
Two on DEXs
Two parties have responded to the Colombo Stock Exchanges call to admit trading members to its new debt trading, the DEX.CSEs Senior Manager Marketing, Rajeeva Bandaranayake says over 20 firms picked up the prospectus, when the earlier deadline ended on April 30.rn rnldblquote We have decided to extend the deadline by another month, as some […]
Rural Rescue
rnrnrnrnrnrnThe rural and informal private sector should step up their investmentsrnand business initiativesrnrnrnrnrnTotal investment inrn2002 dropped 0.7 per cent to 21.3 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ofrnwhich private investments accounted for 16.7 per cent of GDP a 0.5 per cent risernover the previous year.rn The Central Banksrnsay investments was far below the investment […]
Perception Problem
rnrnrnrnrnrnApril 2003rnrnrnrnrn Inflationrnrate measured on a 12-months moving average remained static at 9.9 percent inrnApril, from the previous month, the Census and Statistics Dept said onrnWednesday. rn “Onernof the governments major objectives now is to reduce inflation over thernmedium term and reduce inflationary expectations,” Central BanksrnGovernor, A S Jayawardene told reporters on Wednesday.rn ButrnJayawardene said […]
New Innings
Capital Alliance Ltd., the newest entrant to the Primary Dealer fraternity, plans to tap the outstation market to promote government debt.The Central Bank on Tuesday appointed Capital Alliance as its third non-banking primary dealer.rn rnA primary dealer is a distributor of treasury bills/bonds and participates in the primary and secondary markets of government securities.rn rnCapital […]
Quick Flow
The Asian Development Bank plans to raise its annual contributions to Sri Lanka to about US$ 250 mn and is also keen the government steps up its aid disbursement ratio.The regional development banks assistance to Sri Lanka averages at around US0 mn a year.But in 2002, the banks lending programmed topped US$ 240 mn, with […]
Border Crossing
Sri Lankas trade deficit widened to Rs. 271 million by February, fuelled by higher imports of consumer and intermediary goods.The Central Bank on Monday said the total import bill for 2003 had reached Rs.1.03 billion, an 18 per cent increase over 2002, while exports peaked at Rs. 767 million up from Rs. 714 million in […]
Asset Sale
The government hopes to sell off a further 8.5 percent of its shares held in Sri Lanka Telecom this year, as part of its privatisation programme.Last November, the government disposed a 12.5 percent slice of SLT through an initial public offering.rn rnOther state entities earmarked for disposal include CPCs assets and market network, a 69 […]
Leap Frog
The Central Bank is optimistic the economy will leap frog and can add another 4 percent growth, if the peace initiatives continue.Central Bank governor A S Jayawardena said the bank is looking at an average 6.5 percent GDP growth over the next four years, up from about an expected 3.5 percent last year. rn rnldblquote […]
Avrudu Bonus
Sri Lanka on Friday received a US$ 567 mn concessionary aid package from the International Monetary Fund.The funds will be disbursed over a three-year period under the IMFs Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) and Extended Fund Facility (EFF), the fund said in a statement on Friday.rn rnThe IMF said funds amounting to SDR 413.4 […]