Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka shares soar to record high, foreigners sell
Oct 05, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed at a record high Monday with foreign investors being net sellers, brokers said. The All Share Price Index (ASPI) was up 2.66 percent (80.23 points) to end at 3,098.24 while the Milanka index of more liquid stocks gained 3.36 percent (113.91 points) to close at 3,508.77, […]
Sri Lanka budget 2010 likely delayed
Oct 02, 2009 (LBO) – A decision on delaying Sri Lanka 2010 budget and seeking parliamentary approval for spending in the interim, would be made latest by next week, deputy finance minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.But a senior official said a vote-on-account, or a mini budget for a shorter duration than a year could also presented […]
Sri Lanka accepts UN criticism of camps: minister
October 1, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Thursday said it accepted much of the United Nations’ recent criticism over its handling of 250,000 Tamils detained in camps since the end of the island’s ethnic conflict six months ago. Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe pledged the government would address recommendations made by Walter Kaelin, a […]
Sri Lanka stocks hit new high
Sep 02, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed at a record high Friday, with investors expecting the bull run to continue in the short term with periodical profit taking, while forthcoming quarterly results will point at the bourse’s long term direction, brokers said. Brokers said 18 million Seylan Merchant Bank non-voting shares changed hands. […]
Sri Lanka plantations industry demands former benefits
Oct 01, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s plantations industry is demanding the release of funds taken as an export tax and is asking to treated as exporters under the value added tax regime as they were before, to help cope with a recent wage hike to workers. “We’ve got to see where we can get […]
Sri Lanka inflation slows to 0.7 percent in September
Sept 30, 2009 (LBO) – Consumer prices in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo rose 0.7 percent in September from a year earlier, down from 0.9 percent in August, the government’s statistics office said.The monetary authority, which keeps the rupee pegged to the US dollar, has relaxed policy rates, but has been engaging in steady “quantity tightening” […]
Sri Lankan shares close up 0.87-pct
Sep 30, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed up Wednesday in an end-quarter rally with buyers chasing plantation sector stocks, and hotel stock extending gains, brokers said. The All Share Price Index was up 0.87 percent (25.39 points) to end at 2,938.64 while Milanka index liquid stocks gained 1.15 percent (37.47 points) to close […]
Sri Lanka central bank to issue own securities to mop up inflows
Sept 30, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank will soon issue its own securities to mop rupee liquidity generated from purchasing foreign exchange, because the monetary authority is about to run out of its Treasury Bills portfolio, Governor Nivard Cabraal said. On Monday the monetary authority’s net Treasury bills position fell to 2.7 billion […]
Sri Lanka Treasuries yields fall
Sept 30, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Treasuries bill yields fell across the board at Wednesday’s auction with the 3-month yield dropping 22 basis points to 9.48 percent, the government’s debt office said. The 6-month yield fell to 09 basis points to 10.63 percent. The 12-month yield fell 08 basis points to 11.09 percent. The […]
Sri Lanka poor governance hindering productivity: expert
Sept 29, 2009 (LBO) – Poor governance, weak institutions, high inflation, high interest rates and protectionism, are hindering efforts by Sri Lanka’s private sector to improve productivity, a trade promotion expert has said.Lloyd Yapa, a former government official who supervised an industrial export drive of the government at one time, also says companies should try […]
Sri Lankan shares up 0.56-pct
Sep 29, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed up Tuesday as investors bet on an expected rally in the coming weeks when market liquidity is lifted by refunds from two Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), brokers said.Hatton National Bank closed at 163.25 rupees, up 1.25, while DFCC Bank closed flat at 151.00 rupees. Sampath Bank […]
Sri Lanka state revenues improve in July; budget gap still wide
Sept 28, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state revenues picked up in July, with taxes in the first seven months only 1.47 percent behind last year, but the budget gap continues to be wide, with current expenses growing 24.7 percent, the latest official data showed. The implied annualized overall deficit narrowed to 10.4 percent of […]