Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka hopes to move to budget deficit of 4.0-pct of GDP
July 29, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is hoping to cut the budget deficit to 4.0 percent of gross domestic product and generate a 2.0 percent revenue surplus, Treasury Secretary P B Jayasundera said.Sri Lanka ran a 6.4 percent of gross domestic product overall deficit in the budget in 2012 and a 1.4 percent revenue […]
Sri Lanka stocks close flat
July 29, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed flat Monday with activity seen in the large cap stocks and some banking stocks, brokers said. Distilleries Company closed at 190.50 rupees up 30 cents while Aitken Spence closed at 124.00 down 90 cents. John Kells Holdings closed at 267.50 rupees down 0.50 rupees. The benchmark […]
‘s Asia Pacific chief Anoop Singh to retire
July 26, 2013 (LBO) – Anoop Singh, director of the International Monetary Fund’s Asia Pacific Department and one-time country representative of Sri Lanka is to retire. “Anoop’s departure will deprive the Fund of one its most distinguished staff members, and his friends of a hugely admired colleague,” IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said in a […]
Loans to eurozone businesses drop sharply: ECB
FRANKFURT, July 25, 2013 (AFP) – Loans to businesses in the debt-mired eurozone tumbled in June, the European Central Bank said Thursday, weakening a key component of any economic recovery. Private sector loans dropped 1.6 percent last month in a year-on-year comparison, the ECB said, after a 1.1 percent decline in May. Loans to households […]
Many Sri Lanka state agency accounts disclaimed by auditors: COPE report
July 26, 2013 (LBO) – Accounts of 18 state enterprises and agencies had been disclaimed by auditors, while another 04 had adverse opinions, some for two years running, while some others had not even submitted annual reports, a parliamentary report said. An adverse audit opinion refers to an occasion when an auditor finds enough information […]
Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.2-pct
July 26, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed up 0.23 percent on Friday with large cap stocks and some banking stocks showing gains, brokers said. C T Holdings contributed most to the index closing at 144.90 rupees up 8.70 rupees. John Keells Holdings closed at 268.00 up 1.00 rupee and Nestle Lanka closed at […]
Sri Lanka stocks close down 0.7-pct
July 25, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed down 0.67 percent on Thursday with large cap stocks and banking sector making losses, brokers said. Distilleries Company closed at 190.10 rupees up 10 cents The benchmark Colombo All Share Index closed 40.98 points lower at 6,038.16 and the S&P SL 20 Index closed 24.63 points […]
Sri Lanka holds rates, state credit easing: Central Bank
July 24, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is holding its policy interest rates at 9.00 percent to give money to banks with credit to state starting to ease, which will help private borrowing, the Central Bank said. Sri Lanka’s private borrowings and investment have been crowded out and investments by heavy government borrowing from banks […]
Sri Lanka refugee describes boat sinking tragedy
CIDAUN, July 24, 2013 (AFP) – Rescuers searched the seas off Indonesia’s Java island Wednesday for possibly dozens of asylum-seekers missing after their Australia-bound boat sank, leaving at least three dead, with 157 saved, an official said.Hundreds have drowned making the journey — as recently as last week a boat sank, killing four people — […]
Sri Lanka stocks close flat
July 24, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed flat on Wednesday with large cap stocks making losses, brokers and dealers said. The benchmark Colombo All Share Index closed 05.10 points lower at 6,079.14 and the S&P SL 20 Index closed 12.02 points lower at 3,448.11 down 0.35 percent. Turnover was 291million rupees. While in […]
Sri Lanka Treasuries short tenure bids rejected
July 24, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state debt office has rejected offers for three and 6 month bills at Wednesday’s auction accepting only tenders only for 12 month bills.Sri Lanka’s rupee has fallen around four rupees in recent weeks under pressure from excess rupee liquidity and a policy of the monetary authority not to […]
Sri Lanka rupee stronger amid thin liquidity
July 23, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s rupee was steady amid thin liquidity in the spot market against the US dollar for the second day in a row, with even cash market sales earlier in the day, dealers said.The spot US dollar was quoted around 131.50/55 after opening at 131.55/60 on Tuesday, dealers said.Cash sales […]