Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka rupee trades at new low, foreign names sell bonds
Sept 07, 2007 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka rupee traded at a new low of 113.36 against the greenback as a foreign name sold rupee bonds Thursday, but closed at 113.27/32, dealers said. On Wednesday the rupee closed at 113.10/20 against the spot dollar. A state name intervened at 113.36 in intra day trading driving […]
Sri Lanka tightens labour laws
Sept 07, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is doubling the time given under its labour laws for aggrieved employees to seek redress, rolling a back a previous decision to limit the period, a senior minister said. Minister Anura Yapa said the cabinet of ministers had approved a request by labour minister Athauda Seneviratne to increase […]
Sri Lanka 3-month treasuries move up to 17.80%, rupee weaker
Sept 5, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s 3-month Treasury bill yields moved up 15 basis points to 17.80 percent rolling over 9.3 billion rupees of debt on Wednesday’s auction, the government’s debt office said.The cut-off for the 3-month bill had moved to 17.95 percent, dealers said. The 6-month yield moved up 16 basis points to […]
Sri Lanka politicians oppose taxes, while promoting inflation and money printing
Sept 05, 2007 – Sri Lanka’s opposition, including a Marxist party which engineered fuel subsidies and mass state recruitment forcing the government to print money and push inflation up, is now opposing taxes and demanding higher wages. In 2004, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna called for fuel subsidies to remove what it labeled ‘a plug’ to […]
Standard &’s chief quits amid rating criticism
September 04, (LBO) – Standard & Poor’s (S&P) had replaced its president amid mounting criticism by investors and calls by US lawmakers and EU officials to explain lax rating decisions. Standard and Poor’s had named Deven Sharma to replace Kathleen Corbet as president. McGraw-Hill, the parent company of S&P said Corbet was stepping down “to […]
Sri Lanka rupee comes off highs but spreads narrow
Sept 04, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka rupee came off highs of 113.02 against the greenback Tuesday to close sharply lower in a day that saw strong buying from a state name, dealers said. The rupee opened around 112.97/113.02 to the dollar but closed at a new low of 113.15/18 rupees in spot trade. “The […]
Sri Lanka says reserve money on target, but domestic assets rise
Sep 04, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank said Tuesday reserve money growth is on target, but domestic assets in the monetary base continued to rise, indicating a further weakening of international reserve backing for the local currency. However analysts say Central Bank attempts to stabilize the economy has been undermined by a fiscal […]
Sri Lanka floats the rupee; two way quotes return
Sept 03, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank has successfully floated the rupee after printing billions of rupees on an ill-fated intervention and sterilization adventure that nearly brought the national currency to its knees, analysts said. On August 23, the central bank stopped threatening dealers who were earlier labeled as being anti-national and heavy […]
Sri Lanka rupee closes firmer against greenback
September 01, 2007 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka rupee closed firmer against the greenback at 113.00/113.05 Friday trading two days without central bank intervention, giving confidence to the market. The spot dollar closed at 113.12/18 Thursday which was almost flat from the previous day. The rupee had earlier been hit by heavy central bank market […]
Sri Lanka central bank talks up the rupee
August 31, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank is talking up the rupee saying a one percent fall in the currency during the past two weeks is ‘unwarranted’ because exports are strong, imports weak and remittances are flowing in.The comments came after the spot dollar broke the 113.00 rupee barrier this week and the […]
Sri Lanka needs stronger laws, value addition to develop gem trade
August 31, 2007 (LBO) – Updating laws on gem mining and trade, value addition and better certification methods will help Sri Lanka to develop the country’s gem industry, officials said. Minister of export development and international trade G L Peiris, opening the Facets2007 gem exhibition said the country’s policy structure that addresses the concerns of […]
Sri Lanka August inflation eases to 17.3%
August 31, 2007 (LBO) – Consumer prices in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo eased 0.8 percent in the month August, with the 12-month inflation at 17.3 percent from 17.6 percent a month ago, the government’s statistics office said. The food category of CCPI index registered 5,177.3 points or 15.2 percent lower in August 2006, compared to […]