Category: Economy and Markets
UN running low of funds humanitarian work in northern Sri Lanka
June 26, 2012 (LBO) – The United Nations is experiencing a funding shortfall to meet urgent humanitarian relief work across Sri Lanka’s conflict-hit north, with money running low for solid waste, shelter and water. Basic services to Menik Farm are reaching critical levels with the majority of providers approaching the end of their funding in […]
Sri Lanka forex markets in a spot
June 26, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s spot foreign exchange markets were inactive Tuesday with no two way quotes following earlier regulatory pressure, though the market for transactions with settlement three days ahead, became active, dealers said. So-called ‘spot’ market deals are settled two days later. ‘Spot next’ or deals settled three days later, were […]
Sri Lankan stocks flat; high turnover driven by Aitken Spence, Lion Brewery
June 26, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan share prices were virtually flat on Tuesday, despite big ticket deals in Aitken Spence PLC and Lion Brewery PLC which propelled the bourse to one of its highest turnovers in a single trading day, brokers said. The benchmark All Share Price Index was down 0. 44 points or […]
Sri Lanka energy sector eyed by US firms: envoy
June 25, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s energy sector is a key area of interest for US companies scouting for investment opportunities after the end of a three decades war, US ambassador to Colombo Patricia Butenis said. “We’ve seen a lot of interest from American energy companies interested in help building oil refineries and developing […]
Sri Lanka missing the bus again?
June 25, 2012 (LBO) – If Sri Lanka is to achieve transformative, inclusive growth, it needs to have 7 percent plus growth for several consecutive years. It is well recognized by knowledgeable people, including key decision makers within government, that this would require around one billion dollars in new investment every year. This quantum cannot […]
Sri Lanka forex markets paralyzed
June 25, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s interbank forex markets were paralyzed Monday with no active trading by late morning following heavy moral suasion by monetary authorities over deals made in the previous week, dealers said. The rupee was tentatively quoted around 133.15/40 but there were no firm bids, dealers said after regulators questioned some […]
Sri Lanka sells US229mn in 3-year bonds
June 25, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has sold 229.02 million US dollars in 3-year floating rate bonds which will pay an average of 410 basis points above the London Interbank Offered Rate every six months, the state debt office said. Bids were originally called for the sale of only 150 million US dollars of […]
Sri Lanka stocks fall 0.96-pct
June 25, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan share prices closed down Monday, despite large trades in Madulsima, Balangoda Plantations lifting turnover levels to over a billion rupees, brokers said. The key All Share Price Index fell 48. 72 points or 0.96 percent to close at 4,990.43, while the liquid Milanka Price Index dipped 26.00 points […]
Sri Lanka budget off track in first quarter 2012
June 25, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s budget has gone off track in the first quarter of 2012, with current spending far outpacing tax revenues, leaving a yawning revenue deficit for the three months that is bigger than the gap for the whole of last year. Current spending by Sri Lanka’s rulers rose 24.2 percent […]
Sri Lanka gets US$2.5bn dollars in China financing
June 24, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has notched up 2.53 billion US dollars in funding from China, since 2007 and 1,205 billion US dollars already disbursed into roads, power, ports and airports, a finance ministry report said. Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Electricity Board built its first 300 MegaWatt coal plant with Chinese financing and the […]
Sri Lanka’s battered currency might see some respite: report
June 22, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s currency is expected to firm up later this year, while treasury yields could creep up on fiscal slippages, a report said, as the central bank looks for ways to tighten monetary policy. The Sri Lankan rupee has fallen by some 17 percent against the US dollar since the […]
Sri Lankan stocks down 0.05 percent
June 22, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks dipped 0.05 percent on Friday, despite big ticket deals in John Keells Holdings, Commercial Bank, Seylan Bank and Central Finance, brokers said. Central Finance PLC, one of the country’s oldest finance companies, fell 80 cents to 135.00 rupees on trades of 592,959 shares. A large parcel of […]