Category: Banking and Finance

WASHINGTON, November 24, 2008 (AFP) – The US government late Sunday vowed to protect struggling banking giant Citigroup against “unusually large losses” and give it 20 billion dollars from a financial rescue package approved by Congress. The announcement came after the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation reached an agreement with Citigroup […]

SINGAPORE, November 24, 2008 (AFP) – British-based Standard Chartered bank said Monday it plans to raise 1.78 billion pounds (2.66 billion US dollars) in a rights issue to better position itself during the global financial turmoil. Standard Chartered, which is listed in Hong Kong and London, says more than 90 percent of its operating income […]

Nov 24, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hatton National Banks (HNB) micro finance default rate is lower than the bank average default rates due to the shame factor and peer pressure for villagers, says managing director Rajendra Theagarajah. He says there’s a myth that if the business is from the bottom of the pyramid, the […]

Nov 24, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hatton National Banks (HNB) micro finance default rate is lower than the bank average default rates due to the shame factor and peer pressure from villagers, says managing director Rajendra Theagarajah. He says there’s a myth that if the business is from the bottom of the pyramid, the […]

Nov 20, 2008 (LBO) – A senior Sri Lankan central banker says the collapse of the global financial sector has underlined the value of real output and resources but that it could dampen consumption. Central Bank Deputy Governor W A Wijewardena said that the entire financial market is now going through turmoil. He was speaking […]

Nov 17, 2008 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has confirmed People’s Leasing Company (PLC) national long-term rating at ‘A-(lka)’ with a stable outlook, but warned its aggressive loan growth was a concern. It also confirmed the ‘BBB+’ rating on PLC’s proposed unsecured subordinated debenture issue of up to a billion rupees, and the ‘F1’ short-term […]

Nov 17, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Commercial Bank group net profit for the September quarter rose 6.81 percent to 937.5 million rupees from a year ago although loan growth was slowing, interest margins were eroding and bad loans increasing. Total group income for the quarter rose almost 19 percent to 11.2 billion rupees, according […]

Nov 17, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Pan Asia Bank Corporation said net profit for the September quarter grew 14 percent to 46 million rupees, with tax costs shooting up and foreign exchange gains falling. Revenues for the September quarter had increased by 32 percent or 200 million to 816 million rupees. Interest expenses for […]

Nov 15, 2008 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Sri Lanka has confirmed a BB+(lka) long term rating of Trade Finance and Investment Ltd (TFI) with a stable outlook. “TFI’s rating factors its high capitalisation in terms of its size of operations and good profitability,” Fitch Ratings said. “The rating is constrained by TFI’s small asset base, […]

Nov 14, 2008 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Sri Lanka has confirmed Seylan Merchant Leasing PLC’s (SML) ‘BB+ (lka)’ long term rating with a ‘stable’ outlook. “SML’s rating reflects its modest financial profile, short operating history and small asset base,” Fitch said. “The rating also factors in the implied support assumed to be available from its […]

LONDON, November 3, 2008 (AFP) – Finance minister Alistair Darling announced the creation of a new arms-length body Monday that would manage the British government’s investments in three high street banks bailed out last month. Speaking to a Treasury department committee hearing earlier, the finance minister also made clear he expected all British banks — […]

Nov 04, 2008 (LBO) – The Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka (MBSL) group net profit for the September quarter fell by 26.5 percent to 42.8 million rupees from a year ago as it was affected by sharply higher interest and other costs. Total group income for the September quarter rose 13.9 percent to 409 million […]