Category: Markets
Gross official reserves estimated at USD 5.7bn at end 2020
Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves were estimated at US dollars 5.7 billion at the end of 2020, with an import cover of 4.3 months, the Central Bank said continuing its accommodative monetary policy stance. The trade deficit is expected to have narrowed by over US dollars 2.0 billion in 2020 in comparison to the previous […]
Eran warns “Be careful of pump and dump in stock market”
Jan 18, 2021 (LBO) – Former State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratna said that when we hear the message of share market it was not only the message but we also need to look at the messenger as well. “We hear a lot of comments on basically about economy, lots of nice stories and fairy […]
SEC welcomes market performance; low bank interest rates attract local investors to CSE
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) welcomes the record-breaking performance of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). Bloomberg has identified the CSE as the second best performing equity market in the world. On 15th January 2021, the CSE saw 61,722 trades which is the highest number of trades ever in a single day […]
Asia Securities forecasts strong growth trajectory for equities in 2021
Following a year of volatility, leading stockbroking firm Asia Securities (Pvt) Ltd, notes that the road ahead for Sri Lanka’s capital markets is optimistic, with the ASPI expected to reach 7,400-7,600 in 2021. The Sri Lankan stock market marked a V-shaped recovery in 2020, seeing one of its strongest rallies to recover all losses suffered […]
Restrictions on outward remittances on capital transactions extended by 6 months
Jan 05, 2021 (LBO) – The Central Bank says that the restrictions imposed on outward remittances on capital transactions have been extended by a further six months to preserve the foreign currency reserve position of Sri Lanka. Accordingly following restrictions on outward remittances on capital transactions will be effective till 1 July 2021. Suspension of […]
CBSL to establish permanent single-digit interest rate structure in economy
Jan 04, 2021 (LBO) – Capitalising on the achievement of 12-years of single-digit inflation, the Central Bank intends to establish a permanent single digit interest rate structure in the economy, Governor W D Lakshman said. Introducing the monetary and financial sector policies for 2021, Governor said that they will remain focused on maintaining market interest […]
ASPI recorded a growth of 10.5-pct in 2020; market turnover highest since 2011
Jan 01, 2021 (LBO) – The benchmark All Share Price Index (ASPI) of Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) closed 2020 recording a growth of 10.5%, the highest annual increase the index has seen since 2014. The ASPI ended 2020 on 6774.22 points. Meanwhile, the S&P SL20 index, which features the CSE’s 20 largest and most liquid […]
Fallout from Pandemic prompts an unprecedented rate cut: FCR
Jun 30, 2020 (LBO) – First Capital Research (FCR) believes that there is a higher likelihood of 90% that CBSL may provide a rate cut to ensure the continued supply of credit at a low cost of funding. The firm also believes that there is a probability of 40% for a 100bps rate cut to […]
SEC continues engaging with capital market stakeholders
As part of its continuing efforts to reach out to market participants Viraj Dayaratne PC, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) along with other Commission Members met with representatives of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Law Firms and Stockbroker Firms. These interactions were held as part of a series of […]
Trade deficit widens in April; import expenses on personal vehicles up, no tourism earnings
Jun 22, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s trade deficit widened in April 2020 to US dollars 840 million, from US dollars 797 million in April 2019, as the decline in exports exceeded the decline in imports. Expenditure on merchandise imports declined notably, on a year on year basis, by 29.6 percent to US dollars 1, […]
100bps rate cut on the cards to push banks for lending: First Capital Research
Jun 19, 2020 (LBO) – First Capital Research allocates a policy rate cut expectation of 100bps bringing the SDFR and SLFR to 4.50% and 5.50%, respectively. Despite prevailing the low-interest-rate environment it will have a ripple effect on the overall economy, First Capital Research said in a new research note. “We believe that the Central […]
‘s Central Bank further reduces Statutory Reserve Ratio
Jun 16, 2020 (LBO) – The Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to reduce the Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) applicable on all rupee deposit liabilities of licensed commercial banks (LCBs) by 200 basis points to 2.00 percent, with effect from the reserve maintenance period that commenced on 16 June 2020. According to the […]