Category: Economy and Markets
UNDP allocates USD 38mn to support dry zone communities in Sri Lanka
Oct 20, 2016 (LBO) – The United Nations Development Programme announced the commencement of a 38.1 million dollar project under the Green Climate Fund to improve agriculture-based livelihoods of farmers in the dry zone. “The project will allow assistance to be provided to 770,000 people in three river basins – Malwatu Oya, Yan Oya and […]
Sri Lankan rupee edges down on importer dollar demand, foreign bond sale
COLOMBO, Oct 20 (Reuters) – The Sri Lankan rupee edged down on Thursday on importer dollar demand and as foreign investors sold bonds in the absence of central bank intervention, said dealers. Rupee forwards were active, with the spot-next at 147.45/55 per dollar as of 0646 GMT, compared with its previous close of 147.40/50. The […]
Asian stocks ride US momentum, oil near 15-month high
SINGAPORE, Oct 20 (Reuters) – Asian stocks advanced on Thursday, propelled by strong U.S. earnings and oil prices near a 15-month high, as the third and final U.S. presidential debate before the Nov. 8 election got underway. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.25 percent. Japan’s Nikkei extended gains to 0.9 percent. […]
Sri Lanka’s HNB to raise Rs6bn from listed debenture
Oct 19, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hatton National Bank is to raise 6.0 billion rupees from a listed debenture issue, the bank said in a stock exchange filing. The bank has decided to issue rated, subordinated, unsecured, redeemable debentures worth 5.0 billion rupees with an option to go up to 6.0 billion rupees. NDB […]
Sri Lanka Central Bank resolves four insolvent institutions
Oct 19, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Monetary Board says it has approved repayments to depositors and investors in four insolvent financial institutions. The Monetary Board approved repayment of depositors of three finance companies, The Standard Credit Finance Ltd., City Finance Corporation Ltd. and Central Investments and Finance PLC, and legitimate investors in government securities-linked […]
Asian shares manage muted cheer for China growth
SYDNEY, Oct 19 (Reuters) – Asian shares held early gains on Wednesday as a barrage of Chinese data confirm the economy had stabilised on the back of government spending and a hot housing market, even if worries about debt continue to mount. The initial reaction was muted with few fireworks in the figures and Shanghai […]
Sri Lankan rupee falls on importer dollar demand
COLOMBO, Oct 18 (Reuters) – The Sri Lankan rupee fell on Tuesday on importer dollar demand in the absence of central bank intervention, said dealers. Rupee forwards were active, with the spot-next at 147.20/30 per dollar as of 0752 GMT, compared with its previous close of 147.00/05. The spot rupee was quoted at 146.90/95 per […]
Finance Minister obtains proposals for budget from Ceylon Chamber
Oct 18, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake recently met with the committee members of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce to obtain their views on the upcoming Budget presentation. The discussion was chaired by Chairman of the Chamber Samantha Ranatunga and each committee member was given an opportunity to express their views […]
Asian stocks lifted by firmer oil prices; dollar steady
HONG KONG, Oct 18 (Reuters) – Asian stocks crept up on Tuesday thanks to a rebound in oil prices and the dollar consolidated recent gains although underlying risk appetite was cautious on concerns over capital outflows and weak data, especially from China. Special focus will be on China’s B Share market, which was trading up […]
Sri Lankan rupee steady for third session; stocks down
Oct 17, 2016 (Reuters) – The Sri Lankan rupee was steady for a third straight session on Monday as dollar demand from importers offset exporter sales of the U.S. currency in the absence of central bank intervention, dealers said. The spot rupee was steady at 146.90/95 per dollar at 0633 GMT. However, dealers continue to […]
Sri Lanka exports, imports decline; BOP in surplus
Oct 17, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports fell 4.4 percent to 891.2 million US dollars in July, while imports also fell at a faster 6.6 percent to 1,432.8 million US dollars from a year earlier, official data showed. The trade gap shrank 10 percent to 541.6 million US dollars from a year earlier. Exports […]
New opportunities for Sri Lankan companies in India
Oct 17, 2016 (LBO) – There are new opportunities for Sri Lankan companies in India, with several internal changes going on in the country, an official of a visiting Indian business delegation said. “Within India, there are so many economic changes that could be advantageous for Sri Lanka. What is important is that this is […]