Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka rupee comes off highs but spreads narrow
Sept 04, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka rupee came off highs of 113.02 against the greenback Tuesday to close sharply lower in a day that saw strong buying from a state name, dealers said. The rupee opened around 112.97/113.02 to the dollar but closed at a new low of 113.15/18 rupees in spot trade. “The […]
Sri Lanka says reserve money on target, but domestic assets rise
Sep 04, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank said Tuesday reserve money growth is on target, but domestic assets in the monetary base continued to rise, indicating a further weakening of international reserve backing for the local currency. However analysts say Central Bank attempts to stabilize the economy has been undermined by a fiscal […]
Sri Lanka floats the rupee; two way quotes return
Sept 03, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank has successfully floated the rupee after printing billions of rupees on an ill-fated intervention and sterilization adventure that nearly brought the national currency to its knees, analysts said. On August 23, the central bank stopped threatening dealers who were earlier labeled as being anti-national and heavy […]
Sri Lanka rupee closes firmer against greenback
September 01, 2007 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka rupee closed firmer against the greenback at 113.00/113.05 Friday trading two days without central bank intervention, giving confidence to the market. The spot dollar closed at 113.12/18 Thursday which was almost flat from the previous day. The rupee had earlier been hit by heavy central bank market […]
Sri Lanka needs stronger laws, value addition to develop gem trade
August 31, 2007 (LBO) – Updating laws on gem mining and trade, value addition and better certification methods will help Sri Lanka to develop the country’s gem industry, officials said. Minister of export development and international trade G L Peiris, opening the Facets2007 gem exhibition said the country’s policy structure that addresses the concerns of […]
Sri Lanka August inflation eases to 17.3%
August 31, 2007 (LBO) – Consumer prices in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo eased 0.8 percent in the month August, with the 12-month inflation at 17.3 percent from 17.6 percent a month ago, the government’s statistics office said. The food category of CCPI index registered 5,177.3 points or 15.2 percent lower in August 2006, compared to […]
Sri Lanka central bank talks up the rupee
August 31, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank is talking up the rupee saying a one percent fall in the currency during the past two weeks is ‘unwarranted’ because exports are strong, imports weak and remittances are flowing in.The comments came after the spot dollar broke the 113.00 rupee barrier this week and the […]
Sri Lanka rupee trades marginally lower against greenback
August 30, 2007 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka rupee traded at a low of 113.17 against the greenback and closed at 113.12/18 Thursday, a day after it broke the resistance level at 113 rupees, dealers said.The rupee traded at 113.10 yesterday and also closed at 113.12/18 despite mild official intervention through a state name. The […]
Sri Lanka markets off to a shaky start, rupee edges lower
August 29, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s financial markets got off to a shaky start Wednesday with the rupee edging lower against the greenback and stocks losing ground after opening firmer after a religious holiday. The spot dollar traded at 113.10 rupees with intervention at 113.08 dealers said. Meanwhile overnight call rates dropped to 13.00/13.50 […]
Sri Lankan businesses focus on forex hedging amid rupee volatility
August 29, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lankan exporters, importers and freight forwarders are to discuss ways of managing foreign exchange risks at a time when the rupee has started weakening against the dollar.Standard Chartered Bank, which structured and completed Sri Lanka’s first rupee option, is to provide technical experts for a seminar on understanding foreign […]
Sri Lanka opposition warns of possible default of a proposed sovereign bond
August 29, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition announced a protest in front of HSBC Bank’s Colombo office after its leader warned that the country may not be able to repay 500 million dollars the bank is helping to raise. United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe informed HSBC chief Stephen Green that the proposed […]
Sri Lanka forex market uncertainty returns; no two way quotes yet
August 27, 2007 (LBO) – Expectations that two-way quotes would resume and exporters would start selling in Sri Lanka’s forex markets were dashed early Monday after official interventions spread unease among dealers.Banks stopped quoting two-way in the interbank forex market after the central bank started intervening and terrorizing dealers a few weeks ago. Heavy central […]