Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka IMF loan finalized within days: Central Bank Governor
April 21, 2009 (LBO) – The final touches to an International Monetary Fund loan would be wrapped up within days and the first tranche is expected in less than three weeks, Central Bank governor Nivard Cabraal said. “Within two weeks or three weeks at the most, the first tranche of the IMF facility will come,” […]
Sri Lanka stocks driven up by banking sector
Apr 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares continued their positive run Tuesday, led by banking stocks with investors upbeat that the three-decade ethnic war would be soon over, brokers said. Foreign buying was at 25.7 million rupees, while foreign selling amounted to 95.4 million. Conglomerate John Keells Holdings, which has business interest in finance, […]
Sri Lanka rupee weakens to new life low of 117.10 against greenback
April 20, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka rupee fell steeply to 117.10 levels against the greenback Monday, after opening at 116.00/20 levels, with no intervention from the monetary authority, dealers said.Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange markets are coming to life after a lazy traditional New Year holiday week when demand for dollars was muted. The rupee […]
Sri Lanka to chair regional forum at Washington meet: CB chief
April 20, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will chair a meeting of South Asian central bank chiefs on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings later this week, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. To develop domestic-oriented economy or successfully ‘stimulate’ an economy through looser policy (money printing) a country has […]
US leans on Sri Lanka IMF bailout
April 20, 2009 (LBO) – The United States, which has called for a political package to end Sri Lanka’s internal conflict and expressed concern over civilians caught in fighting, is flexing its muscles over an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout for the island.Sri Lanka has applied for at least 1.9 billion US dollars from the […]
Sri Lankan stocks rise on war victories, rupee hits new low
Apr 20, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares rose across the board on Monday with investors upbeat over signs the ethnic war had reached its final stages, while the rupee hit a new low against the dollar, brokers and dealers said. Rebels leaders are believed to be hiding among the remaining civilians in the area […]
IMF approves US$47 flexi credit line for Mexico
WASHINGTON, April 17, 2009 (AFP) – The International Monetary Fund approved a 47-billion-dollar credit line for Mexico Friday under a new scheme designed to throw a cash lifeline to countries hit by the global economic crisis. “The Mexican authorities have stated they intend to treat the arrangement as precautionary and do not intend to draw […]
Sri Lanka to dip into deflation by mid 2009
April 18, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s inflation will dip below zero briefly by the middle of 2009, the island’s central bank governor Nivard Cabraal said as the world is gripped by a classic deflationary collapse. During the great depression, when the dollar strengthened and people pulled money out of banks to bury in their […]
” global recession
WASHINGTON, April 16, 2009 (AFP) – The International Monetary Fund on Thursday forecast a prolonged, deep global recession in a crisis “nobody is escaping,” with recovery slow and difficult.Weak capital flows to emerging economies in the downturn will hammer Eastern Europe in particular, the IMF said in releasing two chapters from its twice-yearly World Economic […]
Sri Lanka petroleum credit largely repaid: official
April 17, 2009 (LBO) – Most of the short term credits from Iran and private suppliers to Sri Lanka’s state-run petroleum retailer had been repaid, though the outflow worsened a balance of payments crisis in the island, a top central bank official said. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) had borrowed up to a billion US […]
Sri Lanka looks at cutting working week, easing layoffs
April 17, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s labour ministry says a request by the private sector to cut the working week to five days to deal with an economic slump, is timely and attempts would be made to reach a deal fast. Sri Lanka’s private sector has asked to end a half-day of work Saturday […]
Sri Lanka looks to raise US$500mn abroad
April 17, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is looking to raise 500 million dollars from international markets when conditions turn more favourable, while rolling over about 300 million dollars more in maturing dollar debt in 2009, an official said. Global financial markets have turned risk averse compared to two years ago when Sri Lanka sold […]