Category: Economy and Markets
Moving Up
Yields for three month treasuries move up at Wednesdays auction indicating market demand for short-term maturities.rnrn rnHowever, the Central Bank said that yields for six and twelve month paper rnremained unchanged. rn rnResults as follows:rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Bids rn Rcvd rn rn rn rn Amount Accp rn rn rn Avg. […]
Govt. Inc.
The government is going to expand its role in the economy with more spending on infrastructure and subsidies.Unveiling the governments economic policy the finance minister also said the government would push for growth in the agriculture sector to bridge the disparity in regional GDP and to achieve self-sufficiency in food. rn rnRuling UPFA government economic […]
Secure Deal
Senkadagala Finance is coming out with a Rs. 52.4 mn debt paper backed by an A (sri) rating from Fitch Ratings Lanka.The Rs. 52.4 mn issue is part of a larger Rs. 250 mn securitisation deal structured by Capital Alliance, says Senkadagala Managing Director, Lakshman Balasuriya.rn rnThe Leased Backed Trust Certificates (LBTC) will be issued […]
Thinking of U
A new government sponsored agency under the Presidents control and headed by a top bureaucrat has been put in charge of policy formulation and implementation. The National Council for Economic Development (NCED), manned by a team of professionals from the private and public sector will seek wide participation in policy formulation. Experts say getting the […]
Live Injection
The Aitken Spence Group secured an AA (sri) rating for its upcoming Rs. 1 bn five-year unlisted debenture issue from Fitch Ratings Lanka. The group needs the cash to fund its 100 MW power plant in Embilipitya and feed some of its ongoing capital expenditure programmes.rn rnFitch also confirmed an AA (sri) rating for Aitken […]
Rising Expectations
Sri Lankas inflation rate for June shifted up to 3.9 percent on the back of rising prices of essential goods like rice, red onions, potatoes and vegetables.The Census & Statistics Dept said Wednesday that the Colombo Consumers Price Index or CCPI had touched 3,672.8 from 3,598.2 recorded in May this year.rn rnCommenting on the data, […]
Holding On – Updated
The Central Bank on Tuesday reiterated its call for political stability, fiscal discipline and structural reforms to enable the economy grow by five percent this year.For the seventh consecutive quarter, Sri Lankas economy exceeded five percent to notch a 6.2 percent growth.rn rnTo sustain the growth momentum, the bank said the government needs to ensure […]
Driving Hard
Sri Lankas slow moving infrastructure projects are lined up for fast forward implementation through a new central coordinating body, says the Treasury Secretary.The government is hoping to fast forward Sri Lankas slow moving roads, ports and power projects through a central procurement agency that will function under the recently set up National Council for Economic […]
Steady Float
Sri Lankas foreign reserves slipped 3.7 percent dip in April, slightly above a 5.7 percent drop in January 2004, according to latest data released by the Central Bank.rnrn Official or rnCentral Bank reserves slipped to US$ 2,242.3 mn, while total reserves, which rnalso include private holdings, rose 3.3 percent to US$ 3,323.6 mn.rn rn Sri […]
Naked Truth
Visiting Singaporean Premier asked Sri Lanka to come up with an overall competitive package and not just incentives, if it wants to lure foreign investors.“Sri Lanka is a good place to invest in, but it is not the only place,” Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, told a gathering of local business people in Colombo on […]
Recycling Debt
The Central Bank says it will re-issue Rs. 7 bn worth of two-year treasury bonds and Rs.44,837 mn in treasury bills to the debt market, as part of its borrowing programme for July.Of the Rs. 46,837 bn worth of treasury bills maturing, the bank has opted to re-issue only Rs.44,837 bn worth of paper. The […]
Going Blue
Sri Lanka may have missed the bus with the green revolution, but the blue can work in the islands favour, say local scientists. With hungry mouths increasing faster than food production, the world is looking to a lquote blue revolution to provide some of the solutions.rn rn”Most scientists are now of the opinion the green […]