Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka passes IMF loan hurdle, despite failing fiscal target
Nov 07, 2009 (LBO) – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a 413.4 million US dollar tranche under its stand by loan, despite the government failing to meet a key budget constraint, the lender said. Under the original deal, a net international reserve target, which excluded borrowed reserves other than that of the IMF […]
Sri Lanka stocks rebound
Nov 06, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan share prices rebounded Friday after falling sharply in recent days with brokers saying better company earnings and falling interest rates likely to bring buyers back to the market. “Undisciplined trading practices may have contributed to the down trend.” The fall in interest rates and improved company earnings, and […]
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LONDON, November 6, 2009 (AFP) – The price of gold hit a record high above 1,100 dollars an ounce in trading here on Friday following a report that Sri Lanka had joined India in purchasing the precious metal in favour of the US currency. “The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has announced that it is […]
Sri Lanka stocks close 1.6-pct lower
Nov 05, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed 1.65 percent lower Thursday, falling for the third straight day in a continuing correction, despite banks reporting strong earnings in the September quarter season, brokers said. Despite heading for polls in the first quarter of 2010, the government opted to have a ‘vote on account’ instead […]
Sri Lanka central bank to relax exchange controls
Nov 05, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank is planning to relax exchange controls allowing up to 500,000 US dollars to be taken out for investment purposes without approval of the central bank, a media report said. Before the creation of the Central Bank in 1950, Sri Lanka had a currency board with an […]
Sri Lanka fiscal discipline key to economic growth: report
Nov 04, 2009 (LBO) – Fiscal discipline by Sri Lanka’s government will be critical to ensure economic recovery and sustained, high growth anticipated with the end of the ethnic war, RAM Ratings agency said. “Sri Lanka is now well poised to achieve high sustainable growth, as the end of the armed conflict provides the government […]
Sri Lanka Treasuries yields fall
Nov 04, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasury bill yields fell across the board with the 3-month yield falling 36 basis points to 8.14 percent, at Wednesday’s auction just above the 8.00 repo rate at which the monetary authority drains liquidity from markets. The Central Bank’s reverse repo rate at which cash in injected to […]
Sri Lanka stocks slump further
Nov 04, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan share prices slumped again almost across the board Wednesday as nervous investors sold apparently in anticipation of further falls, brokers and analysts said.The All Share Price Index closed at 2,902.70, down 2.07 percent, or 61.49 points while the Milanka Price Index of more liquid stocks closed at 3,242.06, […]
Sri Lanka starts dollar swaps to absorb rupee liquidity
Nov 03, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank has started auctions of dollar-rupee swaps to withdraw excess domestic currency liquidity in the market and develop a new instrument to intervene in the market, an official said.Foreign reserves which fell to around a billion US dollars in March are now close to five billion US […]
Sri Lanka stocks fall despite rate cuts
Nov 03, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks ended weaker Tuesday despite last week’s interest rate cuts and better company earnings with brokers saying investors remained wary because of external factors and political uncertainty. “Investors are adopting a wait-and-see attitude. At any other time earnings increases would have pushed up the market but that also […]
Sri Lanka tables interim budget
Nov 03, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has presented an interim plan to parliament ahead of polls expected in the first quarter of 2010 seeking permission from lawmakers to spend up to a third of last year’s budget.Government spending has been reined in somewhat under a deal agreed with the International Monetary Fund with strict […]
Sri Lanka should import proven leadership talent: business executive
Nov 03, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka should consider importing people with proven track records to run government as native leaders have consistently failed to deliver and develop the country after independence from Britain, a senior private sector executive has said. “When a company fails and has continuous losses, what do you do? The management […]