Blue Oceans for Banks; Myths and Realities

The forthcoming era is certainly a testing period for banks. Stiff competition and high overheads make it challenging to maintain profitability. On the other hand global uncertainties, industry convergence and technology advancements offer enormous challenges for banks in achieving their revenue targets.

Kuwait for anti-poverty Asian fund

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah yesterday proposed setting up a $2 billion fund to fight poverty in Asia and said the Gulf state will donate $300 million to its corpus

Hemas - Mercantile Shipping launch ‘Mercmas’ crew boats

H & M Shipping Services (Pvt.) Ltd., a joint venture between Hemas Transportation ( Pvt.) Ltd. and Mercantile Shipping Company PLC launched its brand new crew boats ‘MercMas I’ and ‘MercMas II’ at a colourful ceremony in Galle.

Will earth tremors engulf Asia’s miracle?

It was learnt from the local news media that there are frequent earth tremors experienced in various parts especially in the North and South East of the country.

Reversed rules harmful to ‘free market’: Vigna

The genuine investors and independent minority shareholders (IMS) were rudely surprised and shocked by the recent relaxation of rules on broker credit and restrictions on broker dealings by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a longstanding minority shareholder activist in the country said.

Borrowings high, should boost exports: Dr. Mathai

Sri Lanka must take steps to boost export competitiveness in order to maintain sustainable debt to GDP levels over the medium-long term, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Resident Representative, Dr Koshy Mathai.

Punctuality, good attendance will have positive impact on workplace

For years, Nihal, a Senior Executive, could be counted on to be late. Got a lunch meeting at 11:30 a.m.? Nihal will be there at 11:40. Got a presentation at 9:00 a.m.? Nihal will be there at 9:20. Is there a meeting at 6:00 p.m.? Nihal’s there by 6:30. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.?

Golden rules of investing in stock market

The stock market can be an excellent place to invest over the long term to create wealth. But in order to reap the benefits of investing in the stock market, investors should learn as much as possible about the market, before investing.

Microsoft finally goes Steve’s way – Imitating Apple’s success

There was and will always be one Steve Jobs, the man who introduced the world to his take on everything from phones to tablets and of course computers. His creativity made Apple the world’s most valuable company.

Women’s cricket on the B side

Women’s international cricket! Does anyone know it exists (smile)?  If one takes a look at the following it has received in this cricket crazy world, on a scale of 1 to 100, I would say it...

Eurozone affecting Asian ratings - S&P

Deterioration of Euro-zone economies could have a negative impact on the sovereign credit ratings of countries in the Asia Pacific region, including Sri Lanka, according to a report from Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Ratings Services.

C’wealth Biz Forum in Colombo next year

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced its support to the next Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF ‘13) to be held in November 2013 in Colombo, and the campaign is scheduled to be launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today.

Investing in education powers competitiveness

 We know that investment in education contributes significantly to economic growth and is key to our current and future competitiveness. Indeed, if the private returns are so high on these investments, most households on their own accord are likely to make adequate investments in human capital development.

Iranian govt., likely to win battle of wills over currency

REUTERS - A battle of wills between Iran’s government and foreign exchange traders may end with authorities taking over all legal trade in the rial, leaving many Iranians to seek hard currency illegally in a poorly supplied black market.

Global economic slowdown worsening- IMF

The global economic recovery has suffered new setbacks and uncertainty weighs heavily on the outlook. A key reason is that policies in the major advanced economies have not rebuilt confidence in medium-term prospects.

Mixed reactions to SEC’S credit, broker trading rules relaxation

The removal of credit restrictions by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), effectively providing brokers with the facility to extend more credit, met with strong positive and negative feedback from market analysts on both sides of the issue.

Sri Lanka plans 26% rise in defence, urban development spending

Sri Lanka plans to increase spending on defence and urban development by 25.9 percent to Rs.289.5 billion ($2.26 billion) in 2013, a budget appropriation bill presented to parliament showed yesterday.

Krrish Group to Develop Four Acres in Pettah

A four-acre land in Pettah has been leased out to the Krrish Group of India for commercial purposes under a lease payment of Rs. five billion for 99 years, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) said yesterday.

SEC relaxes rules on credit, broker trading

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday decided to significantly relax rules on broker credit and restrictions on short-term trading by directors and workers of stockbroking companies.

Need for strong research, linkages to boost plantations’ productivity

The assumption in this article is that the flow of information from agricultural research to farming communities and vice versa requires that continuous contact be maintained by individuals able to make information comprehensible to farmers.

Lankan exports now feeling GSP+ pinch

The removal of the GSP+ facility is one of the main causes of the current downward trend in Sri Lanka’s export sector performance, according to economist and former Director of Economic Affairs at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy.

Lanka imposes tax hikes on fags to cut deficit

Sri Lanka last Saturday increased taxes on tobacco products with a view of bridging the looming budget deficit.

Effective criticism and discipline will keep your team on track

If you are a manager, supervisor and a team leader of a business organisation, I ask you the following question, what would be your answer?  ‘What is your most unnerving task as a leader--the task that you’d most like to avoid?’ 

Are you a smart investor?

You may be wondering what to do with the extra money that is not spent during the month. Some people make impulsive investment decisions without giving proper consideration to their long-term financial goals.

Supreme Court issues landmark order on Intellectual Property law

Making a landmark order in an Intellectual Property Law case, Supreme Court ruled that importing of genuine HP products through alternative sources on a prima facie basis sustain the specific provisions of the Intellectual Property Law of permitting parallel imports.

Bourse falls for 4th straight session; rupee up

Sri Lankan stocks ended weaker for a fourth straight session yesterday on profit taking in hotel shares while the rupee edged up on dollar sales by a staterun bank.

Power of matriarchs in the corporate world

In more instances than not, starting a successful business from nothing has been compared to the process of giving birth and nurturing children. If there is...

Developments in the bamboo industry

A UNIDO-GOSL-GEF initiative on ‘Bamboo Processing for Sri Lanka’, was initiated recently. This project aims at developing a bamboo supply chain and process industry in the country, initially covering an extent of 10,000 ha, by year 2018. It remains as the first project of this nature on this very useful and traditional but neglected crop in the country.

August tea output up marginally

Tea production in the month of August increased by 0.1% year-on-year to 25.4 million kg in the midst of the most severe drought conditions in the country since 1992.

Bourse slips on profit-taking

Sri Lankan stocks ended weaker yesterday for a second straight session as investors booked profits from an overbought market, while the rupee slipped from a more than four-month high.