Category: Economy and Markets
Opinion: Jaffna, high literacy, low employment and lowest income. How come?
By Jekhan Aruliah Despite the Jaffna district having the second highest Literacy Rate in Sri Lanka, it does badly on employment and dismally on incomes. What’s up? I have heard it said here in Sri Lanka and abroad that unemployment is high in Jaffna because so many people don’t need to work. It is asserted […]
Asia stock funds see pockets of value after Trump sell-off
SINGAPORE, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Donald Trump’s shock election victory last month triggered a sell-off in Asian shares on heightened fears of protectionism – but for some investors, the selling marks an opportunity to buy into the region’s still compelling consumer story. Asian emerging market stocks lost 5.5 percent in the week after the […]
Sri Lankan rupee gains on exporter dlr sales, subdued importer demand
COLOMBO, Dec 2 (Reuters) – The Sri Lankan rupee was trading marginally higher on Friday as exporters sold dollars while the demand for the greenback from importers was subdued with the year-end festival season setting in, dealers said. Rupee forwards were active while spot-next forwards were at 148.85/95 per dollar at 0603 GMT, compared […]
Sri Lankan rupee eases on importer dollar demand; stx up
Dec 01, 2016 (Reuters) – The Sri Lankan rupee eased slightly on Thursday due to importer dollar demand in dull trade on fears that economic policies of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump may lead to a rise in the greenback and trigger foreign fund outflows. Dealers see the rupee being under pressure till seasonal inward remittances […]
Oil, dollar and bond yields sharply higher after OPEC deal
TOKYO, Dec 1 (Reuters) – Crude prices, the dollar and bond yields were sharply elevated early on Thursday after OPEC agreed to a deal to reduce output to clear a supply glut that has crunched oil prices and stoked global deflationary pressures. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries on Wednesday agreed to its […]
Asia flat following a weaker Wall Street as Treasury yields hit 16-mth high
lbo.lk,lboSINGAPORE, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Asian shares were flat in early trade on Friday following mostly sluggish sessions on Wall Street and Europe, as 10-year U.S. Treasury yields surged to near 18-month highs and crude futures soared to 16-month highs. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was little changed, but remained on […]
Sri Lanka’s CCPI inflation down to 3.4 pct in Nov
Nov 30, 2016 (LBO) – Consumer prices in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo accelerated 3.4 percent in November 2016 from a year earlier, but down from 4.2 percent in October, the state statistics office data showed. Year-on-year inflation of the “Food Group” decreased from 6.0 percent in October to 2.9 percent in November, while that of […]
Sri Lankan rupee edges up on exporter dollar sales; stx up
Nov 30, 2016 (Reuters) – The Sri Lankan rupee was trading slightly higher on Wednesday, as exporter dollar sales surpassed importer demand for the greenback after the central bank said it was in advance talks with China Development Bank for a $200 million swap. However, dealers expect the rupee to be under pressure till seasonal […]
Challenging external environment for Sri Lanka in 2017: WB economist
Nov 30, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will face a challenging external macroeconomic environment ahead and structural reforms needs to be consistent with improved competitiveness, an economist said. Senior Country Economist at World Bank, Sri Lanka, Ralph van Doorn, speaking at the LBR LBO Debrief: Economic & Business Climate Outlook 2017, said major existing export […]
‘s Budget 2017 under the President
How much of the Budget 2017 is under President Sirisena? – Info-graphics by Manthri.lk
Sri Lanka tourist earnings up, slower growth in workers’ remittances
Nov 30, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s earnings from tourism increased while slower growth was seen in workers’ remittances in October 2016, the Central Bank said. In the the first ten months of 2016 tourism earnings rose to 2,749.4 million dollars compared to 2,400.1 million in the same period of 2015, the Central Banks review […]
Asia stocks edge up on U.S. growth data cues; dollar steady
HONG KONG, Nov 30 (Reuters) – Asian stocks edged higher on Wednesday reflecting upbeat U.S. growth news while oil steadied after a sharp drop overnight as OPEC struggled to agree on a glut-draining production cut. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.1 percent in early trades. It is poised to post […]