Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka rates up amid tight liquidity
Apr 05, 2012 (LBO) – Liquidity tightened in Sri Lanka’s money markets Thursday a day after bond yields spiked amid some foreign selling a day earlier ahead with a monetary policy announcement due later in the day. Call money was quoted as 9.25/50 percent at opening percent and gilt-backed repos were quoted 8. 25/45 dealers […]
Sri Lanka hid vital information, ran into brick wall: legislator
Apr 04, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has suppressed information, ignored warnings from independent analysts, manipulated data and markets until the economy ran into ‘brick wall’ a legislator who is an economist has said. An annual report about the Employees Provident Fund, a retirement fund of non-state workers, whose state management has become increasingly controversial, […]
Sri Lanka trade controls take IMF by surprise
Apr 04, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s sudden hike in car taxes has taken the International Monetary Fund by surprise, and the lender would like to see tighter monetary policy than selective taxes, its resident representative said. “The issue of recent taxes on vehicles and other goods, that actually is something we did not discuss […]
Sri Lanka stock close marginally lower, rupee stronger
April 04, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed slightly lower Wednesday with retail investors active and turnover boosted by several crossings and while the rupee gained ground against the dollar, brokers and dealers said. The rupee closed around 125.40/50 to the US dollar dealers said after opening 126. 00/10 levels. The main All Share […]
Sri Lanka IMF bailout loan resumed; US$426mn loaned for reserves
Apr 03, 2012 (LBO) – The International Monetary Fund said it will give 426 million US dollars to Sri Lanka, resuming its suspended bailout loan, after authorities took corrective steps to stem credit and foreign reserve losses. Settling external loans with foreign reserves does not add new demand but can prevent a contraction of demand […]
Sri Lanka may end forex interventions by May: CB Governor
Apr 03, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka expects to end all interventions in forex markets by end May with forex sales for oil payments already less than planned, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. “We haven’t committed to exactly when interventions will end,” Governor Cabraal said. “The need for intervention is already less than we […]
Sri Lanka bill yields held down
Apr 03, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasury bill yields were held flat by at Wednesday’s auction ending several weeks of corrections that helped push up market rates to reduce pressure on the exchange rate. However other data indicated that Sri Lanka has lost over 200 million dollars of reserves in just two days in […]
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Apr 02, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hatton National Bank has been given a ‘B1’ foreign currency rating, based on its own balance sheet and possible state support, Moody’s Investors Service said. The rating has a stable outlook. The rating agency said HNB had maintained “above-average capitalization Levels” compared with similarly rated bank banks in […]
Sri Lanka raises automobile import taxes
Mar 31, 2012 (LBO)- Sri Lanka has slapped new taxes of as much as 100 percent of import value on some imported cars, but raised taxes on hybrid cars at a lower rate, in a move which can reduce state revenues from automobiles this year. Sri Lanka’s ordinary citizens pay very high taxes on cars, […]
Sri Lanka raises tobacco, alcohol taxes
Mar 31, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s finance ministry said it had raised taxes on tobacco, alcohol and beer, including higher import duties on imported beer, which can potentially raise 3. 0 billion rupees in new taxes a year. Excise tax on wine will go up by 50 rupees to 838 rupees a liter, on […]
Sri Lanka forex inflows rising: Central Bank
Mar 31, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank said there had been a “considerable improvement” in foreign exchange inflows in March 2012, amid a caution that it is domestic monetary policy and not inflows that determines an exchange rate. More than 500 million US dollars in foreign investment is expected in the next few […]
Sri Lanka on track to get IMF tranche next week
Mar 30, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is on track to resume a loan program with the International Monetary Fund next week, with preliminary data showing that action taken to break credit and domestic demand are showing results. The IMF held back the final two tranches of around 800 million dollars from its 2. 5 […]