Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka forex reserves slip 12-pct in Sept to US$7.0bn
Dec 09, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves slipped 11.8 percent to 7,095 million US dollars by end September from a month earlier, amid defence of a soft dollar peg, official data showed. The trade deficit expanded 93.6 percent to 6.8 billion US dollars. The trade gap is driven by income derived from net […]
Sri Lanka stocks flat
Dec 08, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan closed slightly weakener Thursday, staying just above the 6,000 point mark in thin trade, with prices of two firms which revealed fraud falling sharply, brokers said. There was a crossing or off-market private deal of 458,040 shares of Distilleries Company at 150 rupees each, the price at which […]
Sri Lanka food freedoms under fresh threat: report
Dec 08, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister D M Jayaratne had asked for a complete ban on fruit imports and asked for the price of wheat flour to be increased to a level people “could not afford”, a media report said. Farmers in countries like Pakistan produce better quality fruits than in Sri […]
Sri Lanka stocks end up 0.7-pct
Dec 07, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan closed higher Wednesday, swinging back over the 6,000 point mark although trading was thin, brokers said. Orient Garments was the most actively traded stock, accounting for the second highes turnover and closing at 36. 80 rupees, down 3.50, with 2.77 million shares done. It hit a day’s high […]
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Dec 07, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run water supply agency has found about 15,000 suspected points where water is stolen in the island’s capital Colombo where 48 percent of the supplied water brings no revenue, an official said. About 30 percent of Sri Lanka’s Water Supply and Drainage Board is ‘non-revenue’ water but in […]
Sri Lanka Treasuries yields edge higher
Dec 07, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasuries yields increased across maturities at Wednesday’s auction with the average 12-month yield topping 9.0 percent for the first time in over 17-months official data shows. The 3-month yield rose 8 basis points to 8.28 percent, the 6-month yield rose 6 basis points to 8.56 percent and the […]
Sri Lankan companies get faster visas for UK visits
Dec 07, 2011 (LBO) – The British High Commission has launched a fast track visa pilot scheme for 20 selected companies in Sri Lanka which do regular business with the United Kingdom. Thomas Greig, Regional Director of the UK Border Agency said the UK Border Agency and UK Trade and Investment are working together to […]
Sri Lanka lifts limit foreign Treasuries holdings
Dec 06, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has raised a limit on the foreign holdings on Treasury bills to 12. 5 percent of outstanding government debt from 10 percent, the Central Bank said, amid rising interest pressure from the defence of a dollar peg. The raising on the foreign Treasuries holdings limit will increase “resource […]
S&P warns 15 Eurozone states of possible downgrade
Dec 06, 2011 (LBO) – Standard and Poor’s has placed 15 Eurozone nations on negative credit watch indicating that they have a 50 percent chance of a downgrade. “In our view, systemic stress in the eurozone has risen in recent weeks and reached such a level that a review of all eurozone sovereign ratings is […]
Sri Lanka to honour promoters of commerce
Dec 06, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan institutions, companies and individuals who helped promote commerce, especially during the war years, are to be recognised by the ‘Global Commerce Excellence’ awards. The awards, to be held on December 13, 2011, are organised by the state-run Export Development Board and Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and the central […]
Sri Lanka stocks becalmed
Dec 06, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed almost stagnant Tuesday, after breaching the 6,000 point mark the day before, with trading also thin, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index fell 0.12 percent (7.27 points) to 5,988.65, while the more liquid Milanka index was stagnant, edging up 0.01 percent (0.44 points) to […]
Sri Lanka seen needing skills to exploit ocean resources
Dec 05, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka must develop research institutes and skilled manpower to exploit ocean resources being discovered around the island, a senior academic said. Oil and gas deposits are not confined only to the Mannar or Cauvery basins with new surveys indicating their presence elsewhere around the island as well, said Dhammika […]