Introduction to types of traders

A stock trader is a person or entity engaged in the trading of equity securities, in the capacity of agent, hedger, arbitrageur, speculator or investor. Several different types of stock trading strategies or approaches exist including scalping, momentum trading, technical trading, fundamental trading, swing trading, day trading, etc.

Banks seen raising funds for government

The Sri Lankan government appears to be using both state and private sector banks to raise funds on its behalf to fulfill funding needs, without directly accessing international capital markets.

United Motors launches Mitsubishi Mirage

United Motors Plc launched the Mitsubishi “Mirage’, a compact fuel-efficient car with a capacity of 1.2 liters petrol engine in to the local auto market this week.

Foreign holdings in govt. securities exceed limit

Foreign holdings of Sri Lankan government securities have exceeded the Central Bank’s maximum limit of 12.5 percent of total outstanding Treasury bills and bonds, the monetary authority’s latest data showed on Thursday.

Lessons from 21st century women entrepreneurs

They seem to have an uncanny ability to empathise with customers, employees and colleagues. They can communicate splendidly...

Delmege appointed ‘Berri’, ‘Just Juice’ exclusive distributor in Sri Lanka

Delmege Forsyth and Co Ltd and Lion Australia Pty Ltd yesterday announced the appointment of Delmege Forsyth & Co Ltd as the exclusive distributor of ‘Berri' and ‘Just Juice' in Sri Lanka.

Plantation wage hike fears looming

A plantation sector wage hike is expected by mid-2013 as the two-year collective agreement, which was struck between the Regional Plantation Companies and the Lankan estate sector labour unions back in early 2011, is reaching expiration.

Rain-guarding technology can boost NR production

It had been known from the time NR had been introduced as a plantation tree crop that rain interferes directly with the harvesting of latex from rubber trees and therefore tapping on rainy days had not been practiced.

Vehicle registrations continue to decline

The ongoing decline in vehicle registrations continued into the New Year with a total of 28,201 vehicles being registered in January 2013, against 47,500 registrations in the previous year.

SLT group posts Rs.6 bn Operating Profit

The Premier integrated telecommunication service provider, Sri Lanka Telecom PLC. (SLT) announced its group and company financial results for the year 2012, notching Rs. 6.17bn Group Operating Profit, a growth of 19% Year on Year (YoY).

Stocks at 5-week low on telcos; Rupee at 7-week low

Sri Lankan stocks fell to a five-week low yesterday, dragged by top mobile phone operator, Dialog Axiata, on the back of a drop in earnings. The rupee slid to a seven-week low against the dollar.

Lankan hotels’ energy and water conservation measures in stark contrast- Report

The Switch-Asia Greening Sri Lanka Hotels Project has published the first of its research findings on energy and water usage amongst 78 percent of registered tourist hotels in the country.

GVR Lanka signs agreement for mixed development project

The Board of Investment (BoI) signed an investment agreement with GVR Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd to set up the first-ever mixed development real estate project in Kandy, close to the famous ‘Elephant Bath’ locale.

S. Asia’s first underwater tunnel aquarium launched

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday opened South Asia’s first underwater tunnel aquarium at Water World, Biyagama.

High interest for second round bidding

Mirror Business recently met with Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat Chairman Saliya Wickramasuriya to discuss the latest developments in the country’s petroleum exploration front. Following are excerpts of the interview

Bad weather hits Lanka’s premium teas

The buyers of premium Dimbula teas may be disappointed, as the much awaited seasonal teas have run into bad weather which could hinder the production, a Colombo based tea broker said.

Climate change real economic risk, World Bank tells G20

AFP: The President of t h e World Bank warned the finance chiefs of the world’s leading economic powers that global warming is a real risk to the planet and already affecting the world economy in unprecedented ways.

Mannar & Cauvery oil block: Second round bidding to be launched in March

Sri Lanka is offering about 10 to 11 offshore blocks in the Mannar and the Cauvery basins in a second bidding round that will be launched on March 7 at a premier oil conference in Houston, USA, a top official of the country’s petroleum exploration office said.

From crisis to resilience Collaborate or perish!

Think back to a meeting when you had a handful of people gathered around a whiteboard and one person is drawing and talking, explaining what she means. In mid-flight, a colleague grabs another pen and adds to the drawing, suggesting another perspective. A new train of thought emerges.

Aitken Spence records Rs.2.1bn 9-month net profit

Blue chip conglomerate Aitken Spence PLC reported its interim results to the Colombo Stock Exchange yesterday, showing Rs 3.1 bn as profit before tax, which is an increase of 18 per cent for the nine months ended December 31, 2012, amidst challenging macroeconomic conditions.

Energy price formula in the offing

Electricity and fuel prices in Sri Lanka will soon be determined based on a fully cost-reflective pricing formula as the worrisome performance of the staterun Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has been a main concern at the economic health check carried out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

SEC launches book to enhance investor education

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) yesterday launched a book titled ‘Ayojanayata Mulapuramu’ with a view to enhance knowledge in investing in the capital market of Sri Lanka.

Commercial Credit raises Rs.500mn via debentures

The Rs.250 million second tranche of Commercial Credit and Finance PLC’s debenture issue was oversubscribed, the company informed the Colombo Stock Exchange yesterday.

IMF urges govt to increase revenue measures

Hot on the heels of Sri Lanka rejecting further financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the IMF staff mission Chief yesterday urged the Lankan authorities to take a concerted effort to increase the revenue measures of the country, which is now among the lowest in the region, in order to bolster the country’s development agenda.

Worrying fall in government revenue

There has been a sharp fall in government revenue in 2012. Revenue collection is likely to have declined to as low as 11% of GDP. This is significantly less than the 14% - 15% that has been recorded in previous years and compares very unfavourably with 17% - 18% of.....

Global oil market forecasts and imports to Sri Lanka

In my article to the Business Section of the Daily Mirror of 29 January 2013, I summarized five scenarios of energy surprises in 2013 mainly spotlighting on oil and gas.

Cabraal unplugs PBJ’S route to bliss: Harsha

The Central Bank Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal is likely to have pulled the plug from the conditional ‘Nirvana’ the Treasury Secretary, Dr. P.B Jayasundera was hoping to attain by obtaining budget support from International Monetary Fund (IMF), perhaps with limited conditions, according to the economic spokesman of the opposition.

Tourism and remittances top US $ 7bn in 2012

In 2012, earnings from tourism and remittances reached a record high of US $ 1,039 million and US $ 5,985.3 million respectively reducing the current account deficit of the Balance of Payment (BoP) substantially, according to the data released by the Central Bank..

Stocks slip after IMF loan deal dropped

Sri Lankan stocks slipped from a two-week high yesterday after the central bank said the country had decided not to pursue a new IMF loan after months of discussion. The main share index fell 0.26 percent, or 15.24 points, to end at 5,836.11.

Motor vehicle and spare part imports dip 21% in 2012 - Study

Vehicle and vehicle spare part imports fell 21 percent in 2012, after seeing a robust growth of 200 percent and 86 percent in 2010 and 2011, respectively, a study carried out by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) noted.