Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka IMF deal fine print will increase confidence: analysts
July 22, 2009 (LBO) – An International Monetary Fund loan will beef up Sri Lanka’s external solvency but it will raise investor confidence further once details spelling out an economic plan agreed with the lender are published, analysts said.In 2004 a growth oriented IMF backed structural adjustment program was abandoned half way and budget deficits, […]
Sri Lanka shares up, Lanka Cement draws interest
July 22, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares ended firmer Wednesday, still riding the momentum generated by the government clinching a 2.5 billion dollar International Monetary Fund loan, brokers said. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 The All Share Price Index rose 0.47 percent (11.71 […]
Sri Lanka Treasuries yields fall across maturities on IMF loan
July 22, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasuries fell across maturities at Wednesday’s auction with the 3-month yield falling 26 basis points to 10.79 percent, the government’s debt office said.In the first four months of the year, Sri Lanka had already run a 4.0 percent of GDP deficit, putting the country on a path to […]
Sri Lankan stocks rally on IMF loan deal
July 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares rallied Tuesday on news the government had secured a long-awaited loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that brokers said could boost investor confidence and bring in more foreign investors. Share prices shot up over 2.5 percent in early morning trade as news broke the government had […]
Sri Lanka to get US$2.5bn IMF loan
July 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will get 313 million US dollars on July 24 as part of a 2.5 billion US dollar stand by loan running for 20 months, International Monetary Fund managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said. Under the program Sri Lanka was expected to improve its budgets, that had high deficits financed […]
Sri Lanka foreign funding case strengthened by IMF loan: CB Governor
July 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will have more options to tap foreign investors after it gets a 2.5 billion US dollar standby loan from the International Monetary Fund, Central Bank governor Nivard Cabraal said. Cabraal said he will also be in London later this week to “update investors.” “Once we get a feeling […]
Sri Lanka exporters to get incentives next month
July 21, 2009 (LBO) – Over 200 Sri Lankan firms have qualified for a government export incentive scheme the first payments of which are expected next month, but many claims have been rejected owing to errors in applications, officials said. “It is a reward to direct exporters in manufacturing processing industries who have survived the […]
Sri Lanka plans ambitious 7.0-pct deficit under IMF program
July 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is planning a budget deficit of 7.0 percent of its economy under a plan agreed with the International Monetary Fund, which will help improve the country’s rating and open the way for foreign financing, a top official said. A 7.0 percent target is tight for Sri Lanka and […]
Sri Lanka higher education needs quality upgrade, more investment
July 20, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s higher education system needs to be revamped with more investment to produce graduates with information technology and English skills, while private providers need regulation, a World Bank study has said.Higher education minister Wiswa Warnapala says expansion of the arts and humanities stream, low quality external degree programs, and […]
Sri Lanka signs IMF loan deal; awaits board nod
July 20, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has signed a formal document setting out an agreed program with International Monetary Fund staff that is now awaiting approval from its top decision making body, a top official said.On Monday 2013 bonds were offered at 12.95/13.00 percent, down 05 basis points from Friday.A 3-year bond maturing in […]
Sri Lankan stocks up 1.16-pct
July 20, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares rose Monday, as investors chased high value counters, while there was some speculative interest on Lanka Cement and Hotel Developers, brokers said. The benchmark Colombo All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed up 1.16 percent (27.90 points) to end at 2,422.92 Monday, while the Milanka index of liquid […]
Sri Lanka Commercial Bank promotes dollar bonds
July 19, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankans living overseas and foreigners can earn a higher interest by investing in US dollar denominated Sri Lanka Development Bonds (SLDBs) through the Commercial Bank of Ceylon, a statement by the bank said. Commercial Bank’s Head of Global Treasury Dula Weeratunga said that under the scheme, the Income Tax […]