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Saturday June 3rd, 2023

Sri Lanka’s shares close lower on import restrictions and the need for debt optimization assurances

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka shares closed lower on Friday as selling pressure increased following the government’s decision to relax import restrictions imposed two years ago and for having obscure direction on domestic debt restructuring and optimization, an analyst said.

“The market is down on the lack of direction in domestic debt restructuring and debt optimization,” an analyst said.

The main All Share Price Index (ASPI) was down 0.18 percent or 15.65 points at 8697.07, while the most liquid index, S&P SL20, was down 0.18 percent or 4.60 points at 2,485.22.

The government plans to lift import controls on 100 items that were banned during forex shortages in the past two years, which had been hurting small and medium-sized industries, State Minister for Finance Shehan Semasinghe said.

“Stocks went down due to selling pressures resulting from relaxed import restrictions, which are expected to reduce the monopolistic powers held by domestic retailers,” an analyst said.

The main reason for the market’s negative sentiment is the loss of monopoly as import restrictions ease, an analyst said.

“The market is seeing more selling pressures as investors are taking a stance until more clarity is given on domestic debt restructuring assurances and interest rates are high,” an analyst said.

Sri Lanka’s government is to disclose the stance on domestic debt restructuring towards the end of May, which is why investors have adopted a wait and see approach.

Analysts said the low volumes seen in the market are due to the debt restructuring concerns, and investors are waiting for the monetary policy review for the next month.

Sri Lanka’s banks said assurances has been received that the stability of the sector cannot be risked in a planned domestic debt overhaul, to make the defaulted debt sustainable under a program with the International Monetary Fund.

Sri Lanka’s banks have sought clarity on a proposed domestic debt restructure, questioning whether there is a non-voluntary element in the plan, and have also called for transparent discussions with all banks.

The top losers during trading were Aitken Spence, John Keells Holdings and Cargills.

Sri Lanka’s central bank has terminated the cash margin requirement on import letters of credit that was imposed over the previous 12 months to limit imports, as liquidity injection triggered forex shortages and a currency collapse.

In an order issued under the monetary law, the central bank imposed a 100 percent cash deposit margin on 843 imports on May 19, 2022, and February 16, 2023, to discourage imports.

Sri Lanka had controlled imports of 3,000 items denoted by HS codes out of a total of 8,000 during the past two years.

The controls were then brought down to 1,000 as they were hurting small and medium-sized industries that depended on inputs.

“By the beginning of next month, we will be able to lift controls on another 100 items,” Minister Semasinghe told parliament.

The market generated revenue of 729 million rupees, while the daily average turnover was 1.2 billion rupees.

The market generated a foreign inflow of 20 million rupee and the net foreign outflow was 262 million rupees. (Colombo/May 25, 2023)

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Sri Lanka to ramp up weekend fuel deliveries after petrol price cut

More deaths reported at Sri Lanka fuel queues

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation will be operating on the weekend to complete all fuel deliveries to end vehicle queues forming outside fuel stations after the price revision earlier in the week, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

“Instructions have been given to CPC and Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals to continue fuel deliveries on Saturday and Sunday this week to supply sufficient stocks to all fuel stations,” Minister Wijesekera said in a TWITTER.COM MESSAGE

“To reduce expenses on overtime, CPC and CPSTL have not been operating on Sundays and public holidays in the last 4 months,” Wijesekera said.

“Non-placement of orders by fuel stations from last Saturday, anticipating a price reduction, not maintaining minimum stocks, immediate increase in demand by consumers after the price revision, and quota increase have created shortages in the fuel stations.”

The Minister in April 2023 said all fuel stations would be required to maintain a minimum of 50 percent of stock tank capacity.

“I have asked CPC to review and suspend the license of fuel stations that had not maintained minimum stocks.” (Colombo/ June 02/ 2023)

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Sri Lanka bonds yield up at close, rupee at 291.75/292.50 against the US dollar

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s bonds closed steady on Friday, dealers said, following the central bank’s decision to cut its main policy rate by 250 basis points.

The Spot US dollar closed at 291.75/292.50 rupees, dealers said.

The rupee opened at 290.25/75 to the US dollar Thursday and closed at 292.50/295.50 to the US dollar.

A bond maturing on 15.09.2027 closed at 24.70/90 percent up from 24.50/90 percent a day earlier, dealers said.

A bond maturing on 15.05.2026 closed at 25.75/26.25 percent up from 25.00/26.00 percent a day earlier.

A bond maturing on 01.05.2025 closed at 27.00/30 percent, up from 26.30/27.00 per cent at last close.

A bond maturing on 01.07.2032 closed at 20.25/21.00 percent, up from 20.00/40 per cent at last close.
(Colombo/ June 02/2023)

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Sri Lanka’s shares edge up on positive macroeconomic sentiments

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s shares closed higher in trade on Friday, over positive macro-sentiments encouraging investors to redeem their interest towards buying, an analyst said.

The main All Share Price Index was up 0.72 percent or 62.19 points to 8,753.80,  while the most liquid index S&P SL20 was up 0.68 percent or 16.87 points to 2,487.29.

Sri Lanka’s inflation in the 12-months to May 2023 has eased to 25.2 percent from 35.3 percent a month earlier according to a revised Colombo Consumer Price Index calculated by the state statistics office.

Prior to the Monetary Policy investors were quite optimistic that inflation is to lower and interest rates will decrease and since exp, an analyst said.

Sri Lanka Central Bank is waiting for the government proposal on the domestic debt restructuring (DDR), the central bank governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said amid uncertainty over DDR and speculations over instability in the banking sector.

“On debt restructuring, the borrower is the ministry of finance’s treasury. Certainly we will announce what the strategy will be. We are waiting for a government proposal,” Weerasinghe said.

Sri Lanka’s investors are waiting on assurances to be made on debt restructuring and optimization, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said, “It is up to the government to clear the uncertainty, because from our side we have done that part.”

The central bank cut the key policy rates by 250 basis points to spur a faltering economic growth as inflation was decelerating faster than it projected.

The speculation of DDR has hit the market and the risk premium has kept the market lending rates well above the central bank’s policy rates. The government has yet to present its plans on DDR.

Weerasinghe said the central bank has done its best to reduce the risk premium through bringing down the market lending rates while keeping the policy rates unchanged.

Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe has discussed progress of International Monetary Fund program and debt restructuring during a visit of Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura, statement said.

“The discussion primarily focused on the progress of the IMF program between Sri Lanka and the IMF,” a statement from President’s office said.

“Attention was also paid to the on-going debt restructuring negotiations.”

However Officials from IMF have said Sri Lanka has to focus on expanding taxes.

“We discussed the importance of fiscal measures, in particular revenue measures, for a return to macroeconomic stability,” Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura said in a statement.

The finance ministry this week issued rules requiring everyone above 18 year of age to register to pay income tax.

“I was encouraged by the authorities’ commitment to negotiate a debt strategy in a timely and transparent manner.

The market generated a revenue of 738 million rupees, while the daily average was 1 billion rupees.

Top gainers in trade were Vallibel One, LOLC Finance and Browns Investment. (Colombo/June02/2023)

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