Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka comes under IMF microscope
Mar 03, 2009 (LBO) – The International Monetary Fund has sent a mission to Sri Lanka to look at the country’s “near-term outlook”, the global monetary watchdog said, as the island is grappling with the worst balance of payments crisis in a decade. The binges brought minor currency crises in 2004, 2006 and 2007 as […]
Sri Lankan shares down on earnings jitters
Mar 03, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks tumbled on Tuesday as blue chip counters took a beating due to worse-than-expected corporate results which kept investors on the sidelines, brokers said. The All Share Price Index lost 1.93 percent (32.22 points) to end at 1,639.47while the more liquid Milanka shed 2.27 percent (39.71 points) to […]
Sri Lanka in US$200mn bond sale
Mar 03, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is seeking buyers for 200 million US dollars of 2-year bonds, which pays a semi-annual coupon, the government’s debt office said, as debt markets remain risk averse and liquidity tight. This month 215 million US dollars of Sri Lanka Development Bonds (SLDBs) are maturing, but the government is […]
Sri Lankan stocks close down
Mar 02, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares took a beating on Monday as investors preferring to stay away in the wake of poor corporate results published during the weekend, analysts said. Fixed line giant Sri Lanka Telecom was down 75 cents to close at 35. Foreign buying was at 17.5 million rupees, while foreign […]
Sri Lanka negotiating more forex swaps, Jan intervention U$251mn: Central Bank
Mar 02, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank says it is negotiating two swap agreements with central banks to boost the country’s flagging foreign reserves, as interventions continue to pressure the rupee. Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves fell to 1,753 million US dollars in December. The latest official data shows that the Central Bank […]
Sri Lanka at risk of economic damage from AIDS: World Bank
March 01, 2009 (LBO) – A new World Bank report says Sri Lanka must improve HIV/AIDS prevention programmes to prevent the disease causing economic damage.Conditions contributing to high vulnerability include the war, high mobility of soldiers and refugees, and separation of spouses due to overseas employment, said the report on how HIV and AIDS in […]
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Feb 28, 2009 (LBO) – The cut in the outlook of Sri Lanka’s ‘B+’ sovereign rating to ‘negative’ by Fitch Ratings is ‘unwarranted’ and ‘pessimistic’ the island’s Central Bank said. The Central Bank said the rating agency had a “pessimistic view” of various measures being taken by Sri Lanka to increase the country’s flagging foreign […]
Sri Lanka outlook lowered to negative by Fitch, B+ rating affirmed
Feb 27, 2009 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has lowered Sri Lanka’s long-term foreign currency sovereign credit outlook to negative from stable while confirming its rating at ‘B+’ and short-term rating at ‘B’. In 2009, Fitch forecasts the trade deficit will fall to 3.5 billion dollars and the current account will decline to 2.1 billion dollars, […]
Sri Lanka February inflation falls to 7.6-pct
Feb 27, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s inflation in the 12 months to February 2009 measured by the revised Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) fell to 7.6 percent from 10.7 percent in January, the government statistics office said. However Sri Lanka is now in the middle of a severe balance of payments crisis, and the […]
Sri Lankan stocks end weaker
Feb 27, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares ended weaker Friday with several Ceylinco group company share prices falling after news of the chairman’s arrest although Seylan Bank ended up, brokers said. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 The All Share Price Index eased 0.26 […]
Sri Lankan stocks weaken amid foreign selling
Feb 26, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares lost ground Thursday, with the benchmark index slipping below the 1,700 point mark amid heavy foreign selling, brokers said.There was also active trading in Lanka India Oil Corporation which ended up 25 cents at 17.50 rupees. In forex markets the US dollar fell as low as 115.30 […]
Sri Lanka rupee intervention rate lowered
Feb 26, 2009 (LBO) – An intervention rate quoted by a state bank in Sri Lanka’s US dollar spot market was raised to 114.25 rupees from 113.85 Thursday, and quotes in the value tomorrow market moved up to 114. 95/115.10 rupees, dealers said. The rupee hit a low of 114.80 on Wednesday in the value […]