Category: Economy and Markets
Colombo inflation accelerates 2.7-pct in February
Feb 29, 2016 (LBO) – Consumer prices in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo has accelerated 2.7 percent in February 2016 from a year earlier, up from 0.9 percent in January 2016 with the inflation index dropping 0.6 percent in the month, the state statistics office said. As per the statistics office, this increase was mainly due […]
PTL Watch: Yields climb with Sri Lanka bond auction
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Potential IMF funding helps Sri Lanka fiscal consolidation: MOODY’S
Feb 29, 2016 (LBO) – Over the next three years, potential financing from the IMF can lead to an agreement to implement fiscal consolidation, Moody’s Investors Service said in a report. The statement said although this will lower Sri Lanka’s high fiscal deficits and debt, it will likely require a widening of the small tax […]
CT Properties acquires Keppel CT Developments for Rs550mn
Feb 29, 2016 (LBO) – CT Properties, a subsidiary of CT holdings has acquired Keppel C T Developments Private Limited (KCT) for 550 million rupees from Edmonton Private Limited, the company said in a stock exchange filing. CT Properties held a 40 percent shareholding prior to this acquisition, the company said. It has also obtained […]
Popular international stocks take a beating, say analysts
Feb 29, 2016 (LBO) – Popular stocks are taking a beating this year due to redemptions by sovereign and wealth funds, analysts say. These companies are victims of their own success as investors sell winners to meet redemptions, according to BNP Paribas Investment Partners. For instance, Amazon.com Inc. is down 18 percent in 2016 after […]
Investrust says its money market fund outperformed in 2015
Feb 29, 2016 (LBO) – Investrust Wealth Management Ltd, a member of Investrust Holdings Ltd, said its money market fund was the best performing for the year ended 2015. The Investrust Money Fund delivered a net after fee return of 8.60 percent p.a. while outperforming the Money Market Funds available in the market, according to […]
Sri Lanka to go to markets after IMF meetings
Feb 29, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka may go to international markets to raise up to 1.5 billion dollars this year after gauging the outcome of meetings with the International Monetary Fund, a central bank official said. Sri Lanka will hold discussions with the IMF in March and April on a support facility for its […]
Sri Lanka’s megapolis plan a challenge, needs experts to make it successful
Feb 26, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Megapolis development project’s success depends on the establishment of a separate authority to govern the project while social change would also be a key, the president of the Chamber of Construction Industry said. “The Megapolis Authority with the right expertise is a must if this project is to […]
Capital gains tax may kill stock market: Ravi Abeysuriya
Feb 26, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government should not impose a capital gains tax on the stock market as the market still runs on low trade volumes, Group CEO of Candor Group, Ravi Abeysuriya said. Capital gains are profits realized on a sale of a non-inventory asset that was purchased at a cost that […]
Sri Lanka no longer a poor country, discussions with IMF constructive: CB Governor
Feb 26, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is no longer a poor country, and must rely on markets for its funding needs, Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said. An endorsement of the IMF, in this regard, would be valuable, he added. “We have had very constructive discussions with the IMF,” Mahendran said. “The government and […]
COPE to obtain Auditor General Report on bond issue
Feb 26, 2016 (LBO) – The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has decided to obtain a report from the Auditor General regarding the controversial bond issue. JVP Parliamentarian Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that they have also decided to conduct the inquiry through the main committee of the COPE. “We decided to obtain the observations of […]
Sri Lanka wants to maintain rates at current levels: CB Governor
Feb 25, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank governor hopes interest rates can be maintained at current levels, after a 50 basis point rate hike last week, but this will be determined by external factors, he said. The island’s policy rates are at 6.5 percent and 8 percent, while 10-year treasury bond yields have […]