Category: Banking and Finance

Feb 28, 2011 (LBO) – RAM Ratings Lanka has assigned a long-term BBB rating to Union Bank with a stable outlook and a short-term rating of P3, a statement said. “The ratings are premised on the bank’s healthy capitalisation as well as adequate funding and liquidity positions,” the rating agency said. “On the other hand, […]

Feb 24, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s NDB Bank’s net profit for the December 2010 quarter rose 25 percent to 607 million rupees from a year earlier while the full year net rose 3. 0 percent to 2.14 billion rupees. The bank is reporting 26.22 rupees earning per share for the year. In the December […]

Feb 24, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank said profits in the December 2010 quarter rose 46.8 percent to 1.77 billion rupees while the full year profits rose 31 percent to 5.5 billion rupees, helped by stronger credit growth. The non-performing loan ratio has improved to 4.22 percent by end December 2010, from 6. […]

Feb 24, 2011 (LBO) – The heads of east Asian central banks begin a meeting in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo Friday to discuss challenges facing monetary authorities in emerging markets after the global financial crisis. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka will host the 46th South East Asian Central Banks (SEACEN) Governors’ conference, high-level […]

Feb 23, 2011 (LBO) – Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka (MBSL), a unit of state-run Bank of Ceylon said group profits for December 2010 rose 243 percent on wider interest margins and higher non-operating incomes. MBSL, which also has a finance company, an insurer and a savings bank under its wing said group revenues rose […]

Feb 22, 2011 (LBO) – United Motors, local agents in Sri Lanka for brand new Mitsubishi vehicles, has sold its subsidiary Orient Financial Services Corporation for 230 million rupees, a stock exchange filing said. The buyer of the unit, which does vehicle leasing and contract hire business, was People’s Venture Investment Company, part of the […]

Feb 21, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Nations Trust Bank’s (NTB) net profit for the 2010 financial year rose 58 percent to just over a billion rupees from a year ago as interest margins grew, a stock exchange filing said. Diluted earnings per share for the financial year ending December 31, 2010 were 5. 28 […]

Feb 14, 2011 (LBO) – The December 2010 quarter net profit at Sri Lanka’s Sampath Bank almost doubled to 1.4 billion rupees from a year ago with basic earnings per share up 96 percent to 8.84 rupees, a stock exchange filing said. Interest income fell 9.8 percent to 4.7 billion rupees and interest expenses fell […]

Feb 14, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s registered finance companies (RFCs) are gradually recovering from the weakened economic climate that prevailed in 2008 and 2009, a ratings report said. RAM Ratings (Lanka) said the sector has benefitted from falling interest rates which has increased margins due to deposit rates falling faster than rates on loans. […]

Feb 10, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Finance, a regulated finance firm said net profits for the December 2011 quarter rose 72 percent to 472 million rupees as margins widened amid falling rates. For the nine months to December Central Finance reported profits of 1.19 billion rupees, up 69 percent giving earnings per share […]

Feb 10, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Distilleries Group has struck a deal to sell a controlling stake in the island’s pioneering unit trust management company, National Asset Management Ltd or NAMAL, a statement said. Distilleries subsidiary Milford Holdings is expected to earn 455 million rupees for the 70 percent stake in the mutual fund. […]

Feb 10, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Union Bank which is going for an initial public offer selling 15 million shares at 25 rupees after its capital was boosted by several private investors including Malaysia’s Genting group, officials said. Officials say unaudited results for the full year indicate a profit of 148 million rupees. Next […]