Category: Economy and Markets
‘s First Capital sells Rs500mn debentures
Mar 05, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s First Capital Holdings Plc said it had raised 500 million rupees from a debt issue which was oversubscribed on the opening day. The company offered 5 million senior, unsecured, redeemable debentures of 100 rupees each. “We are greatly encouraged by the investor confidence implicit in the extremely positive […]
” rating confirmed: Fitch
Mar 05, 2014 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings said it had confirmed a ‘BBB(lka)’ rating of Sri Lanka’s HDFC Bank, a mortgage lenders, with stable outlook. Fitch said the rating reflected a 51 percent ownership of the state which is expected to bring support. The ratings could be affected if it is merged or acquired by […]
Sri Lanka stocks close flat; rupee pegged
Mar 05, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks close flat Wednesday with index heavy stocks ending on thinner gains and the rupee was kept pegged at 130.60/65 preventing an appreciation, brokers and dealers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 0.19 points lower at 5,936.43. The S&P SL20 closed 4.45 points lower at […]
Free trade deal will open new avenues for BIMSTEC region: Sri Lanka President
Mar 04, 2014 (LBO) – A free trade deal that is being negotiated in countries bordering the Bay of Bengal, will open new avenues for co-operation, Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaska said meeting of the regional grouping.ASEAN is usually looked upon as an example of a successful regional organization. ASEAN (the Association of South East […]
” local rating may be hurt by acquisition: Fitch
Mar 04, 2014 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings said it was confirming ‘AAA(lka)’ domestic and ‘BB’ international ratings of Sri Lanka Telecom, but the local rating could be downgraded if a debt funded acquisition goes through. Sri Lanka Telecom is in talks to acquire Hutchison Telecommunications Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, which has 800,000 subscribers. Fitch said leverage […]
Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.4-pct
Mar 04, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks close 0.38 percent higher Tuesday with index heavy John Keells Holdings and Ceylon Tobacco Company extending gains, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 22.61 points higher at 5,936.62, up 0.38 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 7.53 points higher at 3,221.42, up 0.23 percent. […]
Sri Lanka consumer durables group profits plunge in December
Mar 04, 2014 (LBO) – Profits at Singer Sri Lanka Plc, a consumer durables retailer, fell 71 percent to 93 million rupees in the December 2013 quarter from a year earlier, but sales are no longer shrinking, the firm said. The group reported earnings of 74 cents per share. For the full year to December […]
Sri Lanka central bank plugs IFRS disclosure hole
Mar 04, 2014 (LBO) – A directive by Sri Lanka’s central bank has plugged a hole in newly introduced International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) which made accounts of banks opaque and confused the general public and even analysts. Under IFRS, banks which were earlier disclosing total non-performing loans and deposit with break downs to the […]
Sri Lanka inflation at 2.5-pct in February by citizen index
Mar 03, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s inflation in February 2014 was measured at 2.5 percent by an index compiled by private citizens, coming below the 4.2 percent indicated by the state statistics office.Sri Lanka’s credit growth has been weak in the past year and the Central Bank has also been sterilizing foreign exchange purchases. […]
Sri Lanka stocks down 0.4-pct, rupee steady
Mar 03, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks slipped 0.4 percent Monday dragged down by index heavy John Keells Holdings and Dialog, while the rupee ended stronger against the greenback, dealers and brokers said. The benchmark Colombo All Share Index fell 26.3 points to 5,914.01 points and the S&P SL20 Index fell 9.77 points to […]
HSBC and Sampath for US$100mn loan for Sri Lanka Telecom
Feb 28, 2014 (LBO) – HSBC said it had lead-arranged a 100 million US dollar 5-year loan for Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) with the participation of Colombo-based Sampath Bank.Sampath Bank managing director Aravida Perera was quoted as saying in addition to taking part in syndicated finance for SLT, the bank has also provided services such […]
Sri Lanka inflation at 4.2-pct in February
Feb 28, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s consumer prices rose 4.2 percent in the 12-months February 2014, down from 4.4 percent in January, the state statistics office said.The widely watched Colombo Consumer Price Index rose 0.2 percent during the month. Annual average inflation, a lagging indicator averaged across two years eased to 6.0 percent in […]