Tue, 23 Apr 2024 Today's Paper

Rupee movement no cause for concern: CB Governor

By

17 June 2013 02:59 am - 0     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The fall in Sri Lanka’s rupee currency is no cause for concern as foreign investors have been changing their positions rather than pulling out of the island nation’s bond market, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said.

The rupee had sunk to a more than six-month low of 129.00/129.10 per dollar on last Friday, as foreign investors sold bonds as part of a broader sell-off in emerging markets on fears that loose global monetary conditions were about to end.

The Central Bank intervened in the market, selling dollars to stabilise the rupee and restore calm.

“We haven’t seen foreigners cashing out.... We haven’t seen any (rupee) movement that has caused us any concerns,” Cabraal told a Foreign Correspondents’ Association Forum late on Friday.

“We have actually seen some of the banks changing their positions and booking forwards, perhaps, with the conditions that are taking place in the rest of the Asia. They are doing it mainly as a hedge because they believe that there could be a movement in the direction of depreciation.”

The Central Bank’s weekly economic data released late on Friday showed foreign investors have shifted to more liquid Treasury bills, exiting from somewhat illiquid government bonds.

Foreign investors sold a net Rs.1.82 billion worth of T-bonds in the week ended on June 12, but bought a net Rs.2.45 billion in T-bills, the data showed.

Foreign investors account for Rs.497.71 billion or 13.7 percent of total outstanding government securities of Rs.3.62 trillion.

Cabraal said the rise in U.S. Treasury yields will not affect foreign investors in government securities as returns from Sri Lankan government paper are much higher than in other emerging markets.

Sri Lanka faced a balance-of-payments crisis in 2008 after foreign bond holders withdrew over US $1 billion within a month in the face of the global economic crisis.

(RETUERS)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 0

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment




Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka