Category: Banking and Finance
First Steps
The bank quote s CEO Nihal Jayawardene declined to give the quantum required, but said they were on the look out to private investments. rnrnMERC Bank plans to achieve a break even by mid 2003 and current performance is in line with the target, Jayawardene told Lanka Business Online in an interview. rnrnThe bank is […]
Debt – BBB
SL BBB rating denotes a low expectation of credit risk. rnrnldblquote The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity, dblquote Fitch says in a release. rnrnThe rating takes into account SF quote s strong balance sheet […]
Sampath wins
The Appeal Court upheld an earlier District Court decision, which barred HNB and its associates from selling the excess shares of Sampath Bank that was bought in the market last year. rnrnToday quote s ruling prevents both groups from voting on their holdings in Sampath Bank until court proceedings are complete. rnrnThe ruling also said […]
Revelations
Complex financial transactions that include income securatisations and sale of loans have been increasingly used by local financial institutes to raise capital and improve their profitability. rnrnldblquote At minimum financial statements should include a disclosure about the complex financial transaction. The disclosure should explain the transaction and risk and rewards the company is exposed to […]
Swapping For More
The swap would hedge the Horana plant quote s interest rate risk, by converting its US$ 10.8 mn floating rate, which is pegged to the three months London Inter Bank Offered Rate debt into a fixed rate. rnrnAitken Spence opted for the move, after US dollar interest rates reached historic lows following the US economic […]
Catching Up
ldblquote We are re-visiting our original strategic plan, taking in to account the experiences gained during the last two years dblquote , JKH Director Ajit Gunawardene told Lanka Business Online. rnrnldblquote There will be no major changes to the overall strategic direction dblquote , he said. NTB will continue to focus on gaining competitive advantage […]
Forward Farmers
One of the key problems that hamper agriculture these days is price volatility.Primary agricultural markets have traditionally been volatile, with problems sometimes getting out of hand by ad hoc government policies. Attempts to restore price stability with guaranteed price increases have seen limited success.rnrnWith crashing markets spelling ruins for many farmers, the Central Bank initiated […]
Fighting for Custody
Fitch Ratings Lanka quote s CEO is flying out on a rescue mission to try and salvage an impending divorce from its US partner Fitch IBCA.
Hungry For More
The bank has already expressed intentions to the top management of two Colombo based commercial banks, Citibank quote s CEO Kapila Jayawardena told Lanka Business Online in an interview today. rnrnldblquote We are not interested in acquiring a branch network. It is more in terms of a portfolio purchase to expand our local corporate base […]
Filing for Divorce
Fitch IBCA, the US partner of the local rating agency Fitch Ratings Lanka Ltd (FRL) plans to pull the rug under its Sri Lankan operations.
Pay By Cheque
A sweeping set of tax reforms, including ban of all cash transactions over Rs.100,000, aimed at improving government revenue, are expected to be proposed by the Ceylon Chamber Of Commerce (CCC) to Treasury Secretary Charitha Ratwatte today. rnrn
Lal quote s Charms
ldblquote Everything has been sorted out.We are starting work tomorrow dblquote , a member of restructuring management team told Lanka Business Online. rnrnThe 13-member restructuring management team returned to work today, for the first time since union activists unceremoniously ousted them on December 28. rnrnThey attended Nanayakkara quote s takeover ceremony this morning and were […]
