Sri Lanka rupee stronger, bond yields down

ECONOMYNEXT- Sri Lanka’s rupee closed stronger at 177.90/05 to the US dollar in the spot market Thursday up from 178.40/45 on Tuesday, while bond yields and stocks fell, dealers and brokers said.

Wednesday was a market holiday.

The state debt office had accepted 24 billion rupees in bills on Tuesday, with auction weighted average yields falling.
 
In the secondary market, 12-month bills closed at 10.40/45 Thursday from around 10.42/50 on Tuesday after the bill auction.

A bond maturing on 01.08.2021 closed at 10.64/68 percent Thursday down from 10.72/75 percent Tuesday.
 
A bond maturing on 15.07.2023 closed at 10.88/94, down from 10.90/00 percent on Tuesday.
 
A 5-year bond maturing on 15.03.2024 closed at 10.97/11.02 down from 11.05/08 percent.
 
A bond maturing on 01.08.2026 closed at 11.10/18 percent down from 11.15/25 percent.
 
A bond maturing on 15.06.2027, closed at 11.20/50 down from 11.25/35 percent.
 
A bond maturing on 01.09.2028, closed at 11.30/37 percent, down from 11.33/43 percent Tuesday.
 
A bond maturing on 01.05.2029 closed at 10.38/42 percent down from 11.42/48 percent.

  (Colombo/Mar21/2019-SB)