Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lankan stocks up in low volume trade
Nov 12, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed up almost across the board Thursday, boosted by gains in selected index heavy blue chips despite low trade volumes, while retail investor sentiment remained poor, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 2,927.56, up 2.57 percent (73.32 points) while the Milanka Price Index of […]
Sri Lanka Treasuries yields fall 950bp over past year: Central Bank
Nov 11, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasury bill yields have fallen 947 to 950 basis points at primary auctions over the past year, helped by easier monetary policy, foreign investment into Treasuries and lower inflation, the Central Bank said.At Wednesday’s auction 3-month yields fell to 7.73 percent, the 6-month yield fell 22 basis points […]
‘s boat people: Dying to strike it rich
MARAWILA, November 11, 2009 (AFP) – For 50 young Sri Lankans who had paid up to 1,500 dollars each for the chance of a new life, a five-week voyage in the hold of a fishing boat ended in an Australian camp for illegal migrants.Their families had sold property and whatever other assets they had to […]
Sri Lanka state to recruit 17,000 unemployable graduates
Nov 11, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government is to recruit 17,000 graduates from state universities unemployable in productive sectors, expanding an already bloated public sector, ahead of planned national polls due early next year.Graduates from state universities, who are educated at the expense of the people through general taxes, have successfully cultivated a perception […]
‘s central bank battles inflation expectations
Nov 11, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank is in a battle to dampen high public inflation expectations after capping price rises in the island’s capital Colombo to low single digits for more than a year.In 2009 the Central Bank is hoping to end the year with inflation at 3.5 percent after seeing only […]
Sri Lankans should ask for single digit wage hikes: Treasury official
Nov 11, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan workers should ask for to 3.0 to 5.0 percent annual wage hikes with the Central Bank targeting low inflation in the future, the island’s most senior Treasury official said. The output of Sri Lanka’s people have largely appropriated by a top heavy state sector. Last year more than […]
Sri Lanka 3-month Treasuries fall below repo rate
Nov 11, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s 3-month Treasuries yield fell below the repo rate of 8.00 percent at which the Central Bank drains cash from the banking system in a currency board-style free fall of interest rates amid excess liquidity and weak credit demand.The 3-month yield fell 41 basis points to 7.73 percent, the […]
Sri Lanka at “moderate risk” of external debt distress: IMF
Nov 10, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has a “moderate risk” of external debt distress over the 2009-14 period, an International Monetary Fund staff analysis has said. “All debt indicators are projected to remain below indicative thresholds under the program baseline scenario,” the IMF said. “This conclusion rests heavily on the satisfactory implementation of the […]
Sri Lanka trade unions reject government pay hike
Nov 10, 2009 (LBO) – Labour unions in several key state-owned utilities have rejected a government offer of a pay hike and said they would start a ‘work-to-rule’ from Wednesday that could slowdown economic activity. The joint trade unions of state refiner, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), National Water Board, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and port […]
Sri Lankan stocks slide on forced selling
Nov 10, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed down Tuesday mainly on forced selling by retail investors trying to meet settlement commitments and minimize losses in margin trading on borrowed funds, brokers said. Political uncertainties generated by talk of elections and continued media coverage of alleged insider dealing by US hedge fund manager Raj […]
Sri Lanka rupee opens stronger
Nov 10, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s rupee traded stronger against the US dollar moving up to 114.45/50, with a state bank that usually acts for the monetary authority signaling the new rate, dealers said. The rupee moved up to 114.65 against the US dollar from its long-standing peg at 114.80 levels on Monday. Central […]
Sri Lanka IMF country report released
Nov 10, 2009 (LBO) – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released country report and staff papers covering the background and economic analysis leading up to a stand by loan to the island in July.Sri Lanka’s economic management has improved in recent months with both inflation and interest rates coming down, but external borrowings have […]