Category: Policy
Driving growth-bridging deficits – outlook 2021 report of Ceylon Chamber
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce launched its annual Outlook Report for 2021, at the Economy and Sector Review and Outlook 2021 webinar recently. The Outlook 2021 report published by the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) explores the macroeconomic and sector outlook for the year ahead. The theme for the report […]
Sri Lanka on positive and steady path for economic recovery, says Cabraal
Feb 08, 2021 (LBO) – State Minister of Finance, Capital Markets, and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabral says Sri Lanka is on track now to enacting an effective economic recovery to swiftly close the gap between pre and post-COVID-19 output losses. He says the island’s growth prospects are now positive, underscored by a stabilizing currency and sound debt […]
Sri Lanka inflation at 3-pct for Jan 2021
Feb 02, 2021 (LBO) – The overall rate of inflation as measured by CCPI on Y on Y basis is 3.0 percent in January 2021 and Y on Y inflation calculate for the month of December 2020 was 4.2 percent. As per the Statistics Department, Year on Year inflation of both the Food Group and […]
Global equity interest in emerging markets expected to trickle down to CSE: Ceylon Asset Management
Jan 26, 2021 (LBO) – Local investors should exploit attractive valuations of the CSE before a Sri Lanka country rating revision and foreign investor confidence returns to the CSE, a new report says. “Invest in the Colombo Stock Exchange. Investors should include equity in portfolios during 2021, before PE ratio exceed 15X, ” the Ceylon […]
Gross official reserves estimated at USD 5.7bn at end 2020
Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves were estimated at US dollars 5.7 billion at the end of 2020, with an import cover of 4.3 months, the Central Bank said continuing its accommodative monetary policy stance. The trade deficit is expected to have narrowed by over US dollars 2.0 billion in 2020 in comparison to the previous […]
Policy rates to hold steady, amidst sweeping measures to insulate economy: FCR
Jan 12, 2021 (LBO) – First Capital Research believes that there is a 60% probability to hold rates due to the considerable improvement in high-frequency indicators and with fiscal and monetary measures implemented so far. However, there is a 20% probability each for 25 bps and 50 bps rate cut to support economic growth. “As […]
Fallout from Pandemic prompts an unprecedented rate cut: FCR
Jun 30, 2020 (LBO) – First Capital Research (FCR) believes that there is a higher likelihood of 90% that CBSL may provide a rate cut to ensure the continued supply of credit at a low cost of funding. The firm also believes that there is a probability of 40% for a 100bps rate cut to […]
SL should aim for V-shaped economic recovery post COVID 19 : Cabraal
Jun 25, 2020 (LBO) – Ajith Nivard Cabraal, advisor to the Prime Minister on Economic Affairs says that Sri Lanka should aim for V-shaped economic recovery and aspire for high growth in the immediate future. Elaborating further on the topic Cabraal told Lanka Business Online exclusively. ……..
100bps rate cut on the cards to push banks for lending: First Capital Research
Jun 19, 2020 (LBO) – First Capital Research allocates a policy rate cut expectation of 100bps bringing the SDFR and SLFR to 4.50% and 5.50%, respectively. Despite prevailing the low-interest-rate environment it will have a ripple effect on the overall economy, First Capital Research said in a new research note. “We believe that the Central […]
Developing Asia to grow just 0.1-pct in 2020:ADB
Jun 19, 2020 (LBO) – Developing Asia will barely grow in 2020 as containment measures to address the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic hamper economic activity and weaken external demand, according to a new set of forecasts from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In a regular supplement to its annual flagship economic publication, the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2020 released in […]
‘s Central Bank further reduces Statutory Reserve Ratio
Jun 16, 2020 (LBO) – The Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to reduce the Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) applicable on all rupee deposit liabilities of licensed commercial banks (LCBs) by 200 basis points to 2.00 percent, with effect from the reserve maintenance period that commenced on 16 June 2020. According to the […]
Housing for middle and low income families a priority: President
Jun 12, 2020 (LBO) – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructed the officials of the State Development and Construction Corporation to pay attention to the construction of housing schemes for middle and low income families. President gave this directive at a meeting to review the progress of the State Development and Construction Corporation held at the Presidential […]