Category: Markets
Sri Lankan rupee steady in dull trade; stocks rise
Jan 26, 2017 (Reuters) – The Sri Lankan rupee was steady in thin trade on Thursday as dollar demand from importers was offset by selling of the U. S. currency by exporters, dealers said, a day after the central bank revised the spot reference rate by 10 cents to a record low. Rupee forwards were […]
Asia rises after Dow tops 20,000 for first time, dollar on defensive
TOKYO, Jan 26 (Reuters) – Asian stocks gained early on Thursday, cheered by the Dow Jones Industrial Average breaching past the 20,000-level threshold for the first time though concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist stance kept the dollar on the defensive. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan tacked on 0.3 percent. […]
Sri Lankan shares hit near 10-mth closing low
Jan 24, 2017 (Reuters) – Sri Lankan stocks closed at their lowest in nearly 10 months on Tuesday, dragged down by banking and telecom shares, as concerns over rising interest rates and ongoing political instability weighed on sentiment. The Colombo stock index ended 0.45 percent lower at 6,134.41, its lowest close since April 4. “Not […]
Sri Lankan rupee eases on importer dollar demand
Jan 24, 2017 (Reuters) – The Sri Lankan rupee eased on Tuesday as importer dollar demand outpaced mild greenback sales by exporters, while the market expects the downward pressure to continue until some steady foreign inflows come in, dealers said. Rupee forwards were active, with two-week forwards trading at 151.05/20 per dollar at 0615 GMT, […]
Dollar falls further in Asia amid trade jitters
SYDNEY, Jan 24 (Reuters) – The dollar hit the skids in Asia on Tuesday as U.S. President Donald Trump’s focus on trade protectionism fuelled suspicions his administration might seek a competitive advantage through a weaker currency. The talk of trade wars favoured safe-haven Treasuries and the Japanese yen while subduing stocks, particularly as Asian […]
Central Bank says internal & external probe on 2015/16 EPF operations
Jan 23, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank said an internal examination is currently underway under the direction of the Monetary Board on transactions of EPF in government securities during 2015 and 2016. Releasing a statement, Secretary to the Monetary Board of Central Bank said the law enforcement authorities have also been requested to […]
Sri Lankan rupee down on importer dollar demand
Jan 23, 2017 (Reuters) – The Sri Lankan rupee fell on Monday as the importer dollar demand surpassed modest greenback sales by exporters, dealers said. Rupee forwards were active, with two-week forwards trading at 150.90/151.10 per dollar at 0522 GMT, compared with Friday’s close of 150.85/00. The dollar, however, traded weaker against major currencies on […]
‘s protectionist address
TOKYO, Jan 23 (Reuters) – The dollar slipped and Asian shares were on the defensive on Monday as worries about President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies outweighed optimism that he will follow through on promises of tax cuts and other stimulus. Japan’s Nikkei dropped 1.3 percent while shares in South Korea and Australia dropped 0.3 percent, […]
Sri Lanka President to appoint committee to investigate bond scam
Jan 23, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena said he would appoint a commission to investigate and recommend actions for an alleged bond issue scam in early 2015. “I will appoint a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry this week to investigate the Central Bank bond issue and recommend actions,” President Maithripala Sirisena tweeted. […]
Sri Lankan shares end higher on foreign buying
Jan 20, 2017 (Reuters) – Sri Lankan stocks closed higher on Friday led by financials, after hitting a more than one-week closing low in the previous session, on increased appetite for risky assets by foreign investors. The Colombo stock index ended up 0.08 percent at 6,169.57, edging up from its lowest close since Jan. 10 […]
Sri Lankan rupee weaker on foreign bank dollar demand
Jan 18, 2017 (Reuters) – The Sri Lankan rupee traded weaker on Wednesday due to importer dollar demand, after sales by foreign banks had helped the U. S. currency to edge up in the previous two sessions, dealers said. The rupee has been under pressure due to rising imports and net selling of government securities […]
‘s Brexit speech; stocks slip
HONG KONG, Jan 18 (Reuters) – The British pound consolidated gains on Wednesday after posting its biggest rise in nearly two decades in the previous session, while Asian stocks are set to drift lower following a weak Wall Street. Sterling saw its biggest daily rise since at least 1998 on Tuesday as Prime Minister Theresa […]