Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lankan shares close flat, rupee up
Aug 17, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed flat Monday as investors took defensive positions on mostly blue chip stocks that took a beating last week owing to poor June quarter results, while the rupee strengthened against the dollar, brokers and dealers said. The benchmark Colombo All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed down 0.03 […]
Sri Lanka rupee shows life
Aug 17, 2009 (LBO) – The rupee strengthened against the greenback Monday with state banks that usually represent the monetary authority staying off the market amid a large dollar inflow, dealers said. Speculators hit a currency when a central bank tries to keep a ‘soft’ peg. A central bank (especially one with exchange controls) through […]
US promotes Sri Lanka investment
Aug 14, 2009 (LBO) – The United States is holding a conference in Colombo in October, with participation of Sri Lankan officials for US firms to explore investment opportunities following the end of a 30-year war in the country. “This private-public conference will provide U.S. firms a unique opportunity to be among the first investors […]
Sri Lanka Mercantile Investments rating confirmed by RAM
Aug 14, 2009 (LBO) – RAM Ratings Lanka has confirmed the ‘A’ rating of Mercantile Investments Limited (MIL), a registered finance company in Sri Lanka. with a ‘negative’ outlook. “The negative outlook is premised on the Company’s rising delinquencies, which have been impinging on its financial performance,” RAM ratings said in a statement. “Nonetheless, the […]
Sri Lankan shares down 1.12-pct during week
Aug 14, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks closed weaker Friday, as a record loss by index heavy Dialog Telekom pulled the market down, while the rupee spiked in late trading, brokers and dealers said.The benchmark Colombo All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed down 0.38 percent to end at 2,501.19 (9.62 points), while the Milanka […]
Sri Lankan stocks close flat as buyers take stock of earnings
Aug 13, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed flat on Thursday as retail investors recovered from a spate of weak earnings the June quarter, while plantation stocks that had exposure to tea picked up in price, brokers said. The benchmark Colombo All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed up 0.08 percent (1.95 points) to end […]
Sri Lanka to issue US$500mn sovereign bond in Sept-Oct: report
Aug 13, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will issue a 500 million US dollar 5-year sovereign bond in late September or early October to international investors, a media report said.“Minimum benchmark size in the international capital market is $500 million,” Reuters news agency quoted C.J.P. Siriwardena, head of Sri Lanka’s government debt office as saying. […]
Sri Lankan blue chip shares fall on weak earnings
Aug 12, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed down Wednesday, dragged lower by index heavy blue chips as retailers, worried about weak June quarter earnings, sold out to cut losses, brokers said. The benchmark Colombo All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed down 0.72 percent (18.07 points) to end at 2,506.85, while the Milanka index […]
Sri Lanka Treasury bill yields bottom out
Aug 12, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka 3-month Treasury bill yields showed signs of bottoming out at Wednesday’s auction with 6 and 12 month yields up marginally, despite the government’s debt office not accepting the entire offered volume from the market. Since a float of the currency ended a balance of payments crisis in March […]
Sri Lanka has space for commercial borrowing under IMF program: officials
Aug 11, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has ample space for foreign borrowing under a 20-month International Monetary Fund program, which has set a ceiling of 1,750 million US dollars for new commercial loans, officials said. A US dollar bond issue, sold mostly to domestic buyers with access to foreign exchange, matures this week. “A […]
Sri Lanka exports, imports fall in June
Aug 11, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports fell 18.0 percent to 3.1 billion US dollars and imports 36.7 percent to 4.4 billion US dollars in the 6-months to June, and the trade deficit contracted 59.9 percent to 1.2 billion US dollars, the central bank said.Agricultural exports were down 18.2 percent to 725.3 million US […]
Sri Lankan shares close flat, blue chips down
Aug 11, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed flat Tuesday as retail investors were seen taking profits on selected blue chip and high value shares, while there was renewed interest in certain mid-cap counters, brokers said. The benchmark Colombo All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed up 0.09 percent (2.15 points) to end at 2,524.92 […]