Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka targets US$500mn from diaspora: CB Governor
Feb 02, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is planning to sell 500 million dollars of government securities to the diaspora community in 2009 with a road show to be kicked off this month in 11 countries, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. The money will be channeled into the country through a forex account which […]
Sri Lanka central bank to swap rupees for dollars
Feb 02, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank is negotiating with friendly central banks to swap rupees for dollars, to boost the country’s flagging foreign reserves and meet unforeseen outflows, officials said.Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said the first such swap deal is likely to be concluded ‘soon’ but declined to give a date […]
Most governments fail to account for spending: report
WASHINGTON, January 31, 2009 (AFP) – Eighty percent of the world’s governments fail to provide adequate information on spending to the public, often because of a lack of political will, according to a report published Saturday. The International Budget Partnership (IBP), a non-governmental organization that promotes transparency in government, said it evaluated the budgets of […]
Zimbabwe lifts foreign currency restrictions
HARARE, January 29, 2009 (AFP) – Zimbabwe scrapped restictions on foreign currency on Thursday to prop up its ailing economy, as the United Nations warned that more than half the population needs emergency food aid.Hours after grim estimates by UN agencies also showed that just six percent of its population is formally employed, acting finance […]
Sri Lanka inflation falls to 10.7-pct
Jan 30, 2009 (LBO) – Inflation in the 12-months to January 2009 measured by the revised Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) fell to 10.7 percent from 14.4 percent in December, the government’s statistics office said. The moving average of the index, which is a lagging indicator, fell to 21.6 percent from 22.6 percent. Sri Lanka […]
Sri Lankan stocks slide 0.75 percent
Jan 30, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka shares closed down 0.75 percent Friday, dragged down by worse-than-expected third quarter earnings of index heavy John Keells Holdings (JKH), dealer said. Foreign investors bought 27.3 million rupees with shares, and sold 85.4 million rupees worth shares, resulting in net sales of 58.1 million rupees. The All Share […]
Sri Lankan markets close up 1.2-pct
Jan 29, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks closed up 1.25 percent Thursday driven by renewed retail confidence on expectations of a quick end to the military conflict in the north, brokers said.Foreign buying was at 13.80 million rupees, while foreign selling was at 24.57 million rupees. The military said they found abandoned Tamil Tiger […]
Sri Lanka JKH profits drop 44-pct
Jan 29, 2009 (LBO) – Profits at Sri Lanka’s John Keells Holdings group fell 44 percent to 764 million rupees in the December 2008 quarter, with revenues dropping 16 percent to 9.3 billion, its interim accounts said.In the 9-months to December profits fell 19 percent to 2.6 billion rupees, while revenue grew 7 percent to […]
Sri Lanka stocks mixed, heavy trading in Lanka Cement
Jan 28, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares ended barely changed Wednesday with Lanka Cement the most actively traded on anticipation of a revival in its fortunes if the war ends soon and construction activity picks up, brokers said. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 […]
Sri Lanka banks asked to suspend oil derivatives by central bank
Jan 28, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank says it has asked commercial banks which sold oil derivatives to state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) to suspend the deals because they violated its prudential rules and were ‘tainted’.The banks had already offered to ‘re-structure’ the deals by extending payments over a longer period.The deals were […]
Sri Lanka Treasuries yields extend fall
Jan 28, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasury bill yields extended falls with the popular 3-month yield falling 24 basis points to 15.94 percent and the 12-month yield falling 0.04 basis points to 17.56 percent, the government’s debt office said. Meanwhile in the inter bank market the central bank had printed 20 billion rupees to […]
Sri Lanka stocks fall on profit taking
Jan 27, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan share prices fell on profit taking Tuesday after a sharp rise the day before, but Commercial Bank gained on a court ruling that ended a freeze on oil hedge payments by the state oil refiner. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and […]