Sri Lanka consumer prices soar 5.3-pct in May 

Jun 22, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s inflation climbed for the fourth straight month in May after recording a fall of 0.7 percent in January, according to the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) introduced in October last year with 2013 as the base. According to the Census and Statistics Department inflation was 5.3 percent in […]

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 […]

”s rating to negative from stable

June 20, 2016 (LBO) – Moody’s Investors Service has today affirmed the government of Sri Lanka’s foreign currency issuer and senior unsecured sovereign ratings at B1 and changed the outlook to negative from stable. Two key drivers underpin the change in outlook to negative from stable, Moody’s Investors Service said. 1) Our expectation of a further weakening in […]

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 […]

Sri Lanka’s Central Bank to sell USD250mn development bonds

June 17, 2016 (LBO) – The Central Bank will issue 250 million US dollars development bonds with a tenor of 1 year and 7 months, 2 years and 7 months and 4 years to local and foreign investors. The Debt Department said the subscription will be at a floating rate of 6 month LIBOR for […]

Sri Lankan rupee 1-wk forwards trade steady amid cbank moral suasion

June 17 (Reuters) – Sri Lankan rupee one-week forwards traded steady on Friday, but dealers said the local currency was under pressure due to lack of exporter dollar conversions and moral suasion by the central bank, which is holding the currency at current levels. One-week dollar/rupee forwards, which have been acting as a proxy for […]

Meeting IMF criteria key to improve ratings: Fitch Ratings

June 17, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka still needs to refinance close to 3 billion US dollars for the rest of 2016 and remains vulnerable to shifts in investor sentiment, Fitch Ratings said. Delivering a presentation at a forum, Associate Director of Fitch APAC Sovereigns Sagarika Chandra emphasized that progress on IMF program criteria will […]

Sri Lanka’s listed Shalimar and Indo Malay to sell two estates

June 16, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s listed Shalimar and Indo Malay have entered into a deal to sell two estates to a Malaysian company subject to certain conditions. Following the shareholder approval obtained at the EGM held last month, the directors have executed a sale and purchase agreement with Euro-Asia Brand Holding Company, a […]

Page 363 of 1103