Category: Economy and Markets
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 close 1.5-pct lower
Dec 05, 201 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed 1. 5 percent lower Monday amid foreign selling in some large cap stocks brokers said, as staff at the securities watchdog bid farewell to its chairperson. John Keells Holdings fell 6.10 to close at 162.10 rupees with 4.5 million shares traded and Hatton National Bank fell […]
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 […]
China to keep monetary easing at moderate level: expert
HONG KONG, Asia in Focus (LBO) – China’s monetary easing will stay at a ‘moderate’ level, an expert said Friday, cautioning investors not to become too optimistic about the Chinese economy. The central People’s Bank of China (PBOC) surprised markets late Wednesday by announcing a 50 basis points cut in required reserve ratios, effective from […]
Sri Lanka cricket body has Rs3bn hole in balance sheet
Dec 03, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Cricket, the islands’ governing board for the sport where state intervention has increased over the years, has a three billion rupee hole in its balance sheet, a parliamentary committee on state enterprises has found. A report by a committee on public enterprises (COPE) said SLC had 6. 1 […]
Sri Lanka US$750mn sea reclamation to China Harbour
Dec 02, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is in talks with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to reclaim 500 acres from the sea next to Colombo Port for a 750 million dollar project, an official said. Sri Lanka has said five acres of land in Colombo’s Galle Face beachfront, which is near the port, will […]
Sri Lanka built foreign reserves to use during tough times: CB Governor
De 02, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka built up foreign reserves as a buffer to be used during tough times, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said, as reserves came off record highs seen in August 2011. “We have thought through carefully and built up are reserves carefully in order to ensure that we are able […]
Sri Lanka stocks end down 0.9-pct
Dec 02, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed lower Friday, losing most of Thursday’s gains with some profit-taking seen, brokers said. Share prices have been gyrating in recent days as influential investors and stock brokers sought government intervention to prop up the market by forcing out regulators who probed insider dealing and fraud and […]
Sri Lanka state port agency to sell $500mn bond
Dec 01, 2011 (LBO) – State-run Sri Lanka Ports Authority will sell a 500 million dollar bond to settle loans from Japan which are causing losses due to the appreciation of the yen, an official said. He said SLPA had taken yen loans to the value of 46 billion rupees from mid 1980s, repaid a […]
Sri Lanka stocks end up 0.9-pct
Dec 01, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed higher Thursday with turnover pushed up by a bank deal amid news that the chairperson of the regulatory body was quitting just weeks after powerful investors forced out its director general. The main All Share Price Index rose 0.94 percent (57.27 points) to 6,144.67, while the […]
Sri Lanka Treasuries yields up
Nov 30, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasuries yields rose across maturities with 12-month yields rising 49 basis points to 8.99 percent at Wednesday’s auction, data from the state debt office showed. The peg came under pressure as interest rates did not keep pace with credit growth earlier in the year. The 3-month yield rose […]