Market interest rates will decline this year

Sri Lanka’s market interest rates will ease this year as the Central Bank maintains a loose monetary policy stance despite high lending rates and a recent spike in Treasury bill yields, the head of t he monetary authority said yesterday.

Balanced outlook for NR in 2013 and beyond

The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) has in its latest report analyzed the rubber industry outlook, and this appears to indicate a balanced outlook in terms of demand/ supply equation, during the forecast period.

Time to tackle manpower dearth in hospitality industry

During the induction ceremony of the new Director General/CEO, Deputy Director General and the new Principal, held a few months ago, The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) said:

SEC special approval to Royal Ceramic for early Asia Siyaka share sale

Royal Ceramic PLC (RCL) last week completed the sale of the controlling stake of Asia Siyaka PLC to Lanka Commodity Brokers Ltd, using a special approval granted by the country’s market regulator.

BOC 2012 profits up despite 4Q dip

State banking giant, Bank of Ceylon (BOC) with an asset base of over one trillion rupees saw its group net profits in December quarter declining 16 percent to Rs.3.5 billion from the corresponding quarter in 2011, according to the quarterly financial statements released recently.

India, a stumbling block for Lankan Fund Managers: Promoter

One of the biggest obstacles of attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs), development finance and portfolio investment to Sri Lanka is her neighbour, India, a promoter of Colombobased private equity fund told Mirror Business in a brief interview.

Setting of stock prices and forces that move them

When a company goes public through an initial public offering (IPO), an investment bank evaluates the company’s current and projected performance and health to determine the value of the IPO for the business.

From crisis to sustenance : Blue Ocean Strategy – In pursuit of differentiation

Continuing with our Blue Ocean Strategy basics series, today we will highlight ‘Tipping Point Leadership’ and the ‘Four Organisational Hurdles’ to strategy execution. A good Blue Ocean Strategy will have three defining characteristics:

Dialog secures Mobile 4G LTE Spectrum at TRCSL auction

Dialog Axiata PLC announced yesterday that it had secured the 10 MHz tranche of Mobile 4G LTE Spectrum auctioned by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka.

World Bank provides US $ 200 mn to improve health sector

The World Bank has provided US $ 200 million to further enhance health sector services in Sri Lanka, a communiqué by the Colombo office of the global lender said.

CSE opens 6th branch office in Anuradhapura

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) opened its 6th branch office in Anuradhapura yesterday.

Feasibility of solar electricity in Sri Lanka

An overview of the state of Solar PV installation in the Sri Lankan hotel industry was carried out recently...

Bourse at 1-week low on interest rate concerns

Stocks ended tad weaker yesterday to hit a one-week low despite foreign inflows, as investors were worried over upward pressure on interest rates after yields in Treasury bills rose for a fourth straight week.

Fonterra's global ambassodor, All Blacks capt. arrives in SL

Fonterra brand ambassador and New Zealand All Blacks rugby captain, Richie McCaw visited Fonterra's milk processing site in Biyagama yesterday, to witness first-hand the company's contribution to the local dairy industry.

Bilateral trade between SL - China tops US$ 2.6bn

Bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and China topped US$ 2.67 billion in 2012, increasing by 19.5 percent from 2011, the Industry and Commerce Ministry said in a statement

What next after Cyprus bailout?

In bailing out Cyprus and taking funds from savers instead of taxpayers, the euro zone has crossed a Rubicon with implications for future banking rescues in other countries despite assertions that the crisis in the island nation is unique.

Motor vehicle registrations dip in February

Registrations of brand new and pre-owned vehicles plunged 44.9 percent Year-on-Year (YoY) to 23,544 registrations during the month of February, according to information analyzed by the local equities brokerage, J.B. Securities (Pvt) Ltd.

Combank ranked Lanka’s ‘most desired’ employer

The Commercial Bank has been ranked number one in a survey of ‘Employers of Choice’ in Sri Lanka, published in the March 2013 issue of LMD magazine. The Bank achieved an Employer Choice Index of 105 in the survey conducted by TNS Lanka.

Listed firms in debenture rush

Many listed entities in the Colombo Stock Exchange were seen taking advantage of the concessions offered in the Budget 2013 with regard to corporate debt, as few companies have already raised big sums this year through debenture issues with a several more to follow.

Things to know about asset allocation

With literally hundreds of stocks, bonds and unit trusts to choose from, picking the right investments can confuse even the most seasoned investor. However, starting to build a portfolio with stock picking might be the wrong approach.

From crisis to sustenance : Blue Ocean Strategy – Challenging the conventional wisdom

We learnt in the previous instalments that value innovation occurs whenever companies align innovation with utility, price and cost benefits for customers. Companies that achieve value innovation pursue differentiation and low cost simultaneously.

Brazil, China to ink deal on trade in national currency

Brazil hopes to sign a bilateral accord with China to promote trade in their national currencies at next week’s BRICS summit of the world’s five emerging powers, Trade and Industry Minister Fernando Pimentel said.

COPE questions SEC’S failure to submit info on investigations

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been unable to submit any substantial information to the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) with regard to the investigations on market misconduct, during the meeting held last week, a COPE member stated.

Skill dearth hurts private healthcare sector: Report

The shortage of medical professionals in Sri Lanka remains a major constraint for the private sector in exploiting the growing demand for private healthcare, a survey revealed.

Treasury continues to default Central Bank

The Treasury has blatantly and repeatedly violated section 89 of the Monetary Law Act over the last decade, failing to settle the loans temporary obtained from the Central Bank (CB), an Opposition Party legislator alleged.

PUCSL receives around 100 public responses to electricity hike

Country’s sole power regulator has so far received around hundred responses from the public with regard to the call for written submissions on the proposed electricity tariff revision, likely to come in to effect by end of April.

Tea exports drop first two months

Exports of Sri Lankan Tea dipped by 2.97 percent Year-on-Year (YoY) between January and February of this year to 43.9 million kilograms (kg) according to data analyzed by Ceylon Tea Brokers PLC.

Women and sustainability- lessons from China

China has grown into a dynamic powerhouse of business. Among the men, there are women...

Private power producers in for rude shock

The Independent Power Producers (IPPs) engaged in thermal power generation using furnace oil and diesel in Sri Lanka are likely to suffer a severe blow with the authorities resorting not to renew the power purchase agreements (PPAs) entered into with them.

JAT wins big at Architects Exhibit

At the recently concluded Architects Exhibition, JAT won the award for the Most Innovative and Informative stall, proving that they are the forerunners in the market for timber coatings. This was the first time an award was awarded for this category.