Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka micro lenders on rating watch over merger move with 30-pct dud loan state bank
December 01 (LBO) – Six Sri Lankan regional development banks were put on a ratings watch on Friday, rating agency Fitch Lanka said, following government plans to merge with a newly set up state bank with 30 percent dud loans. Fitch intends to resolve the Rating Watches within a period of six to nine months […]
‘s inflation hits 19.8% as Central Bank credit climbs to Rs 100 bn
November 30, 2006 (LBO) – Consumer prices in Sri Lanka shot up to 19.8 percent in November from 17.2 percent in October, the Census & Statistics Department said Thursday, as Central Bank credit to government climbed to 100 billion rupees, and real interest rates were pushed further into negative territory. Economists had been predicting that […]
Sri Lanka Central Bank shows first signs of ending loose monetary policy
November 30 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank showed the first signs of ending its loose monetary policy after shunting the country into a balance of payments crisis and driving consumer inflation to 19.8 percent in November, as credit to government from the monetary authority climbed towards a billion dollars. In an unusual move, the […]
‘s Commercial Bank raises debt to fund expansion; meet new regulatory guidelines
November 29, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank of Ceylon is coming out with a debt issue to meet Central Bank’s new capital requirement and fund ongoing credit expansions, officials said Wednesday. The island’s biggest private bank in terms of assets, is issuing a 1.5 billion rupee debenture with tenures ranging from 5-10 years. […]
Humble Philippine peso coin worth more abroad than at home
MANILA, Nov 29, 2006 (AFP) – With a face value of less than two US cents the humble Philippine one peso coin may be worth next to nothing at home but in metal-hungry China it spells big bucks. There is virtually nothing that can be bought with these coins and de la Cruz says that […]
US Dollar falls against Euro
NEW YORK, Nov 24, 2006 (AFP) – The euro soared against the dollar Friday in volatile trading which saw the euro surpass the 1.30 dollar mark, hitting the highest level against the US currency since April 2005, traders said. The euro was changing hands at 1.3094 dollars at 1900 GMT, up from 1.2948 dollars late […]
Sri Lanka bombs Black Tiger base
COLOMBO, Nov 25, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan war planes bombed a suspected base of Tamil Tiger suicide bombers in the island’s north Saturday, the defence ministry said, as the rebels commemorated their war dead. The defence ministry said a base housing “Black Tiger” suicide bombers was hit causing “heavy damage”, but gave no details […]
Sri Lanka rupee gains sharply in volatile trading; stocks up
November 22, (LBO) – Sri Lanka rupee zoomed to 106.05 in early morning trade Wednesday, two days after it hit an all time low of 109.40, after authorities took measures to take immediate pressure off the market, dealers said.Information reaching the market that petroleum bills would not be settled with purchases from the market in […]
‘ fear that deemed dividend tax may hurt capital of Sri Lankan banks
Nov 21 (LBO) – A controversial tax to force Sri Lankan companies to pay dividends would undermine the health of the commercial banks by depleting their capital, a top banker has warned. The government is keen to push dividends in order to charge the dividend tax. But private sector officials point out that choice of […]
‘ parley for feeding a credit bubble, inflation
November 21 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s loose monetary policy came under fire at a gathering of top economists and business leaders in the country, with panelists slamming the Central Bank for pushing inflation up, creating a credit bubble and putting Sri Lanka’s balance of payments under pressure. Upside Down Though the economy was growing at […]
Central Bank of Sri Lanka growth numbers get thumbs-up in online poll
November 18 (LBO) – An online poll shows that more LBO readers believe the economic growth numbers generated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka than the Department of Census and Statistics, but a vast majority disbelieved both. The Central Bank data set has a slightly higher weight for agriculture, as a result the two […]
’s customs coffers to fill, despite tax breaks in budget
Nov 17 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Customs says it will shore up revenues to 240 billion rupees next year, despite a host of import duty waivers in the country’s latest budget. Full Coffers Meanwhile, the Inland Revenue Department’s tax revenue’s have also grown on improved collections and is expected to reach 260 billion rupees this […]