Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka overnight rates high amid liquidity shortages
Mar 12, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka overnight cash rates topped 10 percent Monday for the third day running amid liquidity shortages pointing to heavy off-market forex interventions, dealers and analysts said. Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves fell to 5,957.7 US dollars in December 2011 from a peak of over 8.0 billion US dollars in July. […]
Sri Lanka to sell US$45mn in bonds
March 12, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is offering 45 million US dollars worth three and four year government bonds for sale to foreign investors and permitted domestic investors, ahead of a maturity of the same volume. The state debt office, which is a unit of the Central Bank said it is offering 35 million […]
Sri Lanka stocks close 0.6-pct lower
Mar 12, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed 0. 58 percent lower Monday with illiquid stocks falling in thin trade, though foreign investors were net buyers and some large caps stocks gained, dealers said. The benchmark Colombo All Share Index closed down 31. 8 points at 5,424.4 points and the Milanka Index of liquid […]
Sri Lanka to slap price controls on drugs amid warnings
Mar 11, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will soon bring a law to control prices of drugs, a media report said amid protests from the pharmaceuticals trade which had warned that price controls may create shortages of essential drugs from time to time. Sri Lanka’s post-independence rulers, who printed money to run deficit budgets, depreciated […]
Three Sri Lanka soldiers found shot dead in Jaffna: Update
Mar 09, 2012 (LBO) – Three soldiers assigned to provide security to a Hindu temple were found shot dead in Jaffna in Sri Lanka’s north Friday morning, military spokesman brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi said. He said initial investigations had indicated that the incident was due to a personal dispute. “There were no third parties involved,” he […]
Sri Lanka rupee weaker
Mar 08, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s rupee was quoted around 121.55/70 against the spot US dollar in mid-morning trade after opening around 121.30/70 rupees, dealers said. On Tuesday the rupee closed around 121.30/60 against the greenback. In money markets overnight gilt-backed repos were quoted at 8.80/90 percent levels and call money was at 9.75/85 […]
‘s Tata on US$50mn project
Mar 08, 2012 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s Urban Development Authority is in talks with India’s TATA Housing Development Company, to develop an underserved area in Colombo an official said. The Urban Development Authority says slum dwellers are living in appalling conditions without proper ventilation and basic infrastructure. “They can’t even open their windows because it touches […]
Sri Lanka rupee gains after opening, overnight rates tighter
Mar 06, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s rupee was quoted wide on opening at 121.70/122.10 against the greenback and gained slightly in late morning trade to 121.80/90 amid foreign bank selling while overnight rates were tighter, dealers said. The rupee closed around 121.95/122.05 Monday. Gilt backed repos were quoted around 8. 80/8.90 percent up about […]
Sri Lanka Treasuries yields up
Mar 06, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasuries yields rose across maturities at Tuesday’s auction with the three month yield going up the most at 31 basis points to 10. 11 percent, the state debt office said. The 6-month yield rose 24 basis points to 10.18 percent and the 12-month yield rose 15 basis points […]
Sri Lanka opportunities scouted by Dubai group
Mar 06, 2012 (LBO) – Dubai-based All Futtaim group which already owns a motor dealer and insurer is scouting fresh opportunities in leisure and real estate, group vice chairman Omer Al-Futtaim said. “We are exploring a number of new of new opportunities,” he said. “Real estate and leisure is one of the areas we are […]
‘s foreign owned bond holdings increase
Mar 05, 2012 (LBO) – Foreign investor holdings in Sri Lanka government bonds rose to 225 billion rupees in the week ending February 29, up from 212 billion rupees a week earlier, official data showed. Treasury bill holdings rose to 91 billion rupees from 84 billion rupees a year earlier, Central Bank data showed. The […]
” by RAM
Mar 05, 2012 (LBO) – RAM Ratings Lanka said it had given a ‘BBB-‘ rating with a stable outlook to a 500 million rupee senior redeemable debenture debenture to be sold by Softlogic Finance Plc. “The ratings are supported by SLF’s adequate asset quality, financial performance, capitalisation and liquidity, but tempered by its moderate funding […]