Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka rupee weakens further
Nov 23, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s rupee weakened to 114.15/20 in the spot dollar market, after closing at 113. 88/90 rupees a day earlier, after the monetary authority adjusted a daily guidance rate, dealers said. The rupee fell more than 3.0 percent a day earlier after the a budget for 2012 said the rupee […]
Sri Lanka rupee adjustment in right direction: IMF
Nov 23, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s rupee devaluation earlier this week was a step in the right direction, and a planned narrower budget deficit would reduce the country debt burden an International Monetary Fund official said. “We think that the exchange rate adjustment was a step in the right direction and should help support […]
Sri Lanka cuts budget deficit, maintains investment: Treasury Secy
Nov 22, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has managed to gradually reduce the government budget deficit without cutting public investment which is needed to build the capacity to enable private investments, an official said. Treasury secretary P B Jayasundera said the government was maintaining the downward momentum in budget deficits and inflation had been brought […]
Sri Lanka business chamber approves devaluation
Nov 22, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main business chamber has approved the sudden devaluation of the rupee saying it would boost exports and urged the government to consult plantation firms whose uncultivated lands are being taken. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said the government’s 2012 budget presented to parliament Monday “maintains the consistent fiscal […]
Sri Lanka bonds illiquid, rupee weaker after devaluation
Nov 22, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s bonds were illiquid with two way quotes absent for several maturities Tuesday as market participants looked for direction following a surprise devaluation of the rupee, dealers said. The Central Bank gave guidance to the market at 113.50/90 rupees through a state bank. Liquidity in bond markets dried up […]
Sri Lanka rupee devalued, spot dollar at Rs113.80/90
Nov 22, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s rupee traded at 113. 80/90 against the greenback in the spot market Tuesday moving within a band indicated by the central bank, after a rare devaluation announcement a day earlier. A day earlier, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the rupee should be devalued 3. 0 percent to improve export […]
Sri Lanka stocks end down almost one pct
Nov 22, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed lower Tuesday with plantations stocks among the biggest losers after the government said in its 2012 budget it would seize estate lands lying unused, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index fell 0.96 percent (58.91 points) to 6,060.95, while the more liquid Milanka index fell […]
Sri Lanka on a progressive path: President
Nov 21, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is travelling new road turning its back on a “very destructive” path the country started to tread from 1977, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said presenting a budget for 2012. After taking over in 2005 he ended a 30-year war wiping out Tamil Tiger separatists, boosted the rural economy and […]
Sri Lanka rupee to be depreciated 3-pct: President
Nov 21, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will depreciate the rupee 3. 0 percent to help export competitiveness, President Mahinda Rajapaksa told parliament in his budget speech for 2012. Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said the rupee will be depreciated from tomorrow The rupee is pegged to the US dollar and traded around 110.20 on […]
Sri Lanka expropriations will hurt economy: EIU
Nov 21, 2011 (LBO) – A Venezuela-style law to expropriate dozens of private enterprises will hurt the economy, undermine policy predictability and scare investors despite state assurances that it will be a ‘one off’, UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit said. EIU said the law which deemed some 37 firms as ‘under-utilized’ or ‘under-performing’ also resembled similar […]
Sri Lanka stocks end down 0.3-pct
Nov 21, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed lower Monday with the low turnover bolstered by trades in conglomerate John Keells Holdings, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index fell 0. 34 percent (20.66 points) to 6,119.86, while the more liquid Milanka index rose 0. 15 percent (7.91 points) to close at 5,357.45, […]
Sri Lanka economy to grow over 8.5-pct in 2012: Central Bank
Nov 21, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economy is expected to grow between 8. 5 to 9.0 percent in 2012 and inflation would be kept in the mid single digits, the Central Bank said in a report released ahead of the budget. Exports are projected at 14 percent and imports at 10 percent. Growth in […]