Health

Vietnam city in Covid-19 lockdown, airport shut after Coronavirus surge, stocks plunge

VIETNAM: Vietnam avoided stimulus mania and instead focused on contact tracing, quarantine and helping distressed citizens and businesses.

Thursday January 28, 2021 5:51 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Vietnam locked down a city and closed a regional airport and ordered nation-wide caution, after 82 Coronavirus cases were discovered in the worst Covid-19 outbreak from the community while stocks plunged.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered the Chi Linh City of Hai Duong province locked down for 21 days and public transport out of the city to halted and mass testing to begin.

Residents were asked to stay at home, but they could go out to buy food, medicine, hospital or go to factories and essential services that were operating.

All schools, public activities, entertainment facilities, any events with crowd and nonessential service activities were halted.

On January 27 and 28, 72 cases were found at POYUN factory at Cong Hoa Industrial Park, in Chi Linh City. Contact tracers then found 11 security staff at Van Don international airport in Quang Ninh province.

The airport was ordered closed from 1200hours on January 28.

Heads of all cities and provinces were asked to review and tighten epidemic prevention measures and lockdown or isolate areas based on the level of risk.

The Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) plunged 3.43 percent with 413 falling and 64 stocks hitting the maximum daily intra-day loss of 7 percent. During the day 785.7 million shares were traded.

The Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HXN also fell 3.09 per cent, with 146 million shares traded, Vietstock, a financial news portal reported.

Vietnam had previously controlled two outbreaks in Da Nang and a smaller one in Ho Chi Minh City and is one of the fastest growing countries in the world.

Sri Lanka stock market overtakes Vietnam, trails Venezuela

Ha Noi stock exchange was the best performing market shortly before Sri Lanka became overtook it.

The outbreak comes as Vietnam is getting ready to celebrate Tet, the traditional New Year.

The cases were discovered after a traveler to Japan was found positive.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who heads Vietnam’s anti-Covid task force, was quoted as saying that 4,000 sample tests and produced 72 cases.

More cases are expected. In Quang Ninh samples up to F3 were taken.

He said due to the long gap without cases authorities had got complacent.

Local authorities were asked to be alert and blockade or isolate if necessary.

Border controls were ordered to be tightened. Vietnam had recently found an infected person among those who were walking across borders.

“On behalf of the National Steering Committee, we urge all people to agree,” he said. “Blockade is extremely inconvenient but we cannot do otherwise. If we do well, with good control we can turn it around and it is possible to return to normal.

“But if we are not determined from the beginning, we are afraid of difficulties and suffering, we cannot predict the consequences.

Deputy Prime Minister was quoted in the media as saying authorities should be ready to trace 30,000 contacts.

On January 28, the Ministry of Health issued an urgent notice for people who had gone to 31 locations in Ha Noi, Hai Duong, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh areas to contact health authorities immediately as the tracing operation got under way.

I. Hai Duong:

1. Date 17/1: Chu Van An Primary School, Sao Do, Chi Linh

2. Date 23-24: Wedding at Que Linh village, Thuong District, Kinh Mon

3. Date 23/1: Wedding at Hoang Tan, Dao Xa village, Chi Linh

4. Date 24: Wedding in Ngu Uyen village, Long Xuyen, Kinh Mon

5. Date 20-26: Residential markets of Duong Nham, Pham Thai, Kinh Mon

6. Date 20-22 and January 24-25: Hoang Tien, Hoang Tien, Chi Linh Market

7. Date 23: Con Son General Clinic, Highway 37, Cong Hoa, Chi Linh

8. Date 23/1: Mushroom hotpot Tran Pho, Sao Do, Chi Linh

9. Date 23-24: Supermarket Lan Chi, Kinh Mon

10. Date 23-24: Supermarket Lan Chi, Sao Do, Chi Linh

11. Date 23/1: Cuong Na, De Term, An Sinh, Kinh Mon grocery store

12. Date 24/1: Sao Do Market, TT. Red Star, Chi Linh

13. Date 24/1: Mobile World Store, 50m from Sao Do intersection, towards Hai Duong

14. Date 24/1: Mother and baby shop, Ben Bath, Chi Linh

15. Date 24/1: Tea Chanh shop 1975, number 233 Nguyen Trai, Sao Do, Chi Linh

16. Date 25/1 Tien Huyen Pharmacy, opposite An Sinh market, An Sinh, Kinh Mon

17. Date 25/1 Hung Nhung Pharmacy, 110 Huu Nghi Street, Chi Linh

18. Date 26/1 Hai Duong Clinic, Sao Do, Chi Linh

19. Date 26/1 Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam, No. 119, Nguyen Trai, Sao Do, Chi Linh

20. Date 26/1 Thi Xuyen Pharmacy, Nguyen Trai, Sao Do, Chi Linh

21. Date 27/1 Thanh Tan Market, Le Loi, Chi Linh

22. Date 27/1 Khe Khau Market, Van Duc, Chi Troi

23. Date 27/1: An Sinh Market, An Sinh, Kinh Mon

II. Hai Phong

24. Date 25: Hai Phong Children’s Hospital

III. Quang Ninh

25. Date 18-21h on January 21: Trung Son restaurant, Van Don

26. Date 23: Vinmec Ha Long General Hospital, 10A Le Thanh Tong, Hong Gai, Ha Long City

27. Date 23: Golden Gate Frog Hotpot Restaurant II, 68 Zone 9, Cai Rong Town (200m from Cai Rong Port)

28. Date 24: Bac Ma Market, Binh Duong Commune, Dong Trieu Town

29. From January 15-28: Passengers on flights departing from Van Don Airport and arriving at Van Don Airport

IV. Hanoi

30. Date 20: Wedding in Xuan Duong village, Kim Lu commune, Soc Son

31. Date 21: The death anniversary at Xuan Duong village, Kim Lu commune, Soc Son

Suggestions:

– Contact the nearest medical authority for advice and support;

– Hotlines to call

+ 1900.9095 (Ministry of Health)

+ 0969.082.115 / 0949.396.115 (Hanoi Center for Disease Control)

+ 0988,123,951 (Hai Duong Center for Disease Control)

+ 0903.265.275 (Center for Disease Control in Hai Phong province)

+ 0979.362.473 (Center for Disease Control in Quang Ninh province)

– Online medical report at https://tokhaiyte.vn and regular health status updates.

– Install Bluezone application to be alerted to the risk of COVID-19 infection: https://www.bluezone.gov.vn

(Colombo/Jan28/2021)

Markets

Sri Lanka stocks close up 1.37-pct, banks lead turnover

Monday November 9, 2026 3:29 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed up on Monday, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving up 1.37 percent.

The ASPI was up 291.72 points at 21,531.37, while the more liquid S&P SL20 was up 1.67 percent, or 100.96 points, at 6,146.34.

Positive contributors to the ASPI were Commercial Bank of Ceylon (up 2.86 percent at 216.00 rupees), Hatton National Bank (up 1.52 percent at 399.75 rupees), Asiri Hospital Holdings (up 12.86 percent at 31.60 rupees), Tokyo Cement Company (up 5.22 percent at 84.70 rupees), and Access Engineering (up 3.93 percent at 81.90 rupees).

Carson Cumberbatch (down 4.24 percent at 712.00 rupees), Richard Pieris and Company (down 2.43 percent at 28.10 rupees), LOLC Holdings (down 0.62 percent at 400.00 rupees), Renuka Holdings (down 2.63 percent at 37.00 rupees), and Chevron Lubricants Lanka (down 0.61 percent at 204.25 rupees) were top negative contributors.

Market turnover was 3.33 billion rupees. The S&P/CSE Banks Industry Group led turnover with 667.76 million rupees.

The session saw heavy crossings, according to Raynal Wickremeratne, Head of Research and Strategy at NDB Securities. Significant crossings included Keells (23 million rupees), Distilleries Company (27.7 million rupees), Sunshine Holdings (30.6 million rupees), Commercial Bank (32.4 million rupees), Ceylon Tobacco Company (35.6 million rupees), Hatton National Bank (39.5 million rupees), Prime Lands (40.5 million rupees), and HAS Holdings (41.5 million rupees).

In corporate news, Hayleys Retail Holdings Ltd announced it has partnered with supply chain software provider Blue Yonder to build and scale an AI-native grocery supermarket chain across Sri Lanka. (Colombo/Nov09/2026)

Information Technology

Sri Lanka’s Hayleys Retail to launch supermarket chain with Blue Yonder

Monday November 9, 2026 3:12 pm

ECONOMYNEXT — Hayleys Retail Holdings Ltd has selected supply chain software provider Blue Yonder to build its grocery retail operations from the ground up, the two companies said in a joint statement.

Hayleys Retail, a member of Sri Lanka’s diversified conglomerate Hayleys Group, plans to open several stores in the near future to serve consumers across the country. The agreement marks Blue Yonder’s first retail customer in Sri Lanka.

“Our entry into supermarket retail is about bringing that same commitment to quality and reliability closer to everyday Sri Lankan consumers,” Mohan Pandithage, Chairman and Chief Executive of Hayleys PLC said.

“With Blue Yonder, our teams will have AI-driven insight to deliver a seamless, consistent shopping experience across every store,” he said.

Hayleys, which accounts for approximately 5 percent of Sri Lanka’s export income and operates across 17 business sectors, is entering the large-scale supermarket space by drawing on its group strengths in manufacturing, logistics, and services.

The company selected Blue Yonder to connect its data across merchandising and shelf space, deploy artificial intelligence agents to catch operational issues early, and scale its business into a national network without changing platforms.

The rollout will begin with merchandise operations to manage suppliers, items, costs, and pricing, followed by machine learning capabilities to forecast demand and balance store inventory during seasonal peaks.

“Hayleys Retail is choosing one where AI is the foundation rather than an add-on—connected data and agentic AI built into core merchandising operations, and planning that learns as the business grows,” Antonio Boccalandro, President, APAC at Blue Yonder said.

The retailer plans to use the platform to automate routine store tasks and adjust inventory according to real-time sales and local market trends as its store footprint grows. (Colombo/Nov09/2026)

Stocks & Companies

Sri Lanka’s Citrus Leisure extends Lotus Tower management pact

Monday November 9, 2026 1:16 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka listed hospitality firm Citrus Leisure said it has extended an agreement to manage consumer-facing and entertainment spaces at the Colombo Lotus Tower, which includes revolving restaurant Blue Orbit, until June next year.

The initial agreement signed between Citrus Leisure and Colombo Lotus Tower Management Company (Private) Limited (CLTMC) is due to expire on December 11.

“The Board of Directors of CLTMC at meeting held on 2nd November 2026 has resolved to extend the term of the Management Agreement and continue the existing Management Agreement until 30th June 2027, to which the company has given its concurrence,” the company said in a market filing.

Citrus Leisure Plc opened its revolving restaurant at the Lotus Tower in December 2023.

The company signed a 3-year agreement with CLTMC in May 2023 to provide services in the management of (l) the banquet hall 1 on the 25th floor, (2) the banquet hall 2 on the 26th floor, (3) the revolving restaurant on the 27th floor, (4) the 6 suites situated on the 28th floor and the kitchen in the basement floor of the Colombo Lotus Tower.

The 350-meter or 1,150-feet tower, the tallest in South Asia, was built at a cost 104.3 million US dollars with 80 percent of the money borrowed from Exim Bank of China.

Located in the commercial heart of Colombo, the tower has been called a symbolic landmark of Sri Lanka as well as a colossal white elephant and has been mired in controversy for years. (Colombo/Nov9/2026)

Markets

CIC Holdings Sept quarter net profit rises 20-pct to Rs1.7bn

Monday November 9, 2026 11:50 am

ECONOMYNEXT — Sri Lanka conglomerate CIC Holdings recorded a net profit of 1.66 billion rupees for the quarter ended September 30, rising 20.3 percent from 1.38 billion rupees in the same quarter last year, interim accounts showed.

The group posted basic earnings per share of 0.87 rupees for the September quarter, up from 0.73 rupees a year earlier.

Quarterly revenue grew 3.4 percent to 20.89 billion rupees from 20.20 billion rupees, supported by broad-based growth across industrial solutions, livestock, and healthcare segments, which counterbalanced relative demand moderation in agricultural inputs.

Cost of sales rose 5.3 percent to 15.20 billion rupees, outpacing revenue growth and causing gross profit to contract marginally by 1.2 percent to 5.68 billion rupees.

Results from operating activities dropped 7.3 percent to 2.66 billion rupees from 2.87 billion rupees, impacted by higher operating overheads.

Selling expenses expanded 6.8 percent to 2.15 billion rupees, and general and administrative expenses climbed 5.8 percent to 1.07 billion rupees, while other operating income dropped 29.6 percent to 117.40 million rupees.

However, operating profits were cushioned by an impairment reversal on trade receivables of 85.83 million rupees, turning around from an impairment provision of 23.38 million rupees in the corresponding quarter last year.

Net finance costs climbed 35.4 percent to 712.25 million rupees from 526.01 million rupees.

The increase was driven by a 30.8 percent rise in finance expenses to 771.46 million rupees, primarily reflecting higher interest expenses on loans to finance elevated working capital and inventory requirements.

The quarter’s bottom line was strongly bolstered by CIC’s equity-accounted investment in John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH).

Share of profit from equity-accounted investees surged more than fourfold to 590.50 million rupees from 257.87 million rupees, driven by JKH’s strong profit expansion during the period.

The group also recognized a gain on bargain purchase of 55.59 million rupees during the quarter resulting from additional share purchases in JKH where the proportionate net asset value exceeded acquisition cost, compared to no such gain a year earlier.

With associate income gains offsetting operating margin contraction and higher borrowing costs, group pre-tax profit held virtually flat at 2.59 billion rupees, down 0.11 percent.

Income tax expense fell 29.4 percent to 606.24 million rupees from 858.71 million rupees, driving total group profit for the period up 14.1 percent to 1.98 billion rupees.

Total group assets stood at 108.58 billion rupees as of September 30, up from 99.75 billion rupees at the end of March 2026.

Group net asset value per share increased to 25.52 rupees from 22.10 rupees a year earlier.

CIC Holdings’ ordinary voting shares closed at 27.80 rupees at the end of September.(Colombo/Nov09/2026)

Markets

Sri Lanka stocks trend up; ASPI gains 0.78-pct

Monday November 9, 2026 10:40 am

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange was trading higher on Monday, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving up 0.78 percent.

The ASPI was up 165.73 points at 21,405.38, while the more liquid S&P SL20 was up 0.61 percent, or 37.04 points, at 6,082.42.

Positive contributors to the ASPI were Commercial Bank (up 1.55 percent at 213.25 rupees), Ceylon Cold Stores (up 2.61 percent at 128.00 rupees), Asiri Hospital Holdings (up 10.00 percent at 30.80 rupees), Hemas Holdings (up 1.27 percent at 32.00 rupees), and Ambeon Holdings (up 6.02 percent at 37.00 rupees).

Namunukula Plantations (down 3.92 percent at 63.70 rupees), LOLC Holdings (down 0.62 percent at 400.00 rupees), and Chevron Lubricants Lanka (down 0.12 percent at 205.25 rupees) were top negative contributors.

Market turnover was 428.31 million rupees. Capital goods led turnover with 82.53 million rupees. (Colombo/Nov09/2026)

Bonds & Forex

Sri Lanka rupee at 332.54/58 to US dollar spot, bond yields steady

Monday November 9, 2026 10:35 am

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee was quoted at 332.54/58 to the US dollar spot on Monday, stronger from 332.55/60 Friday, while bond yields held broadly steady, dealers said.

A bond maturing on 15.09.2029 was quoted at 10.90/95 percent, up from 10.85/95 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.08.2030 was quoted at 11.00/10 percent, down from 11.05/10 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.02.2031 was quoted at 11.10/20 percent, up from 11.10/15 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 was quoted at 11.58/68 percent, up from 11.55/65 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.06.2033 was quoted at 11.80/95 percent, up from 11.80/85 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.10.2034 was quoted at 12.08/15 percent, up from 12.05/12 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.08.2036 was quoted flat at 12.30/40 percent.

The telegraphic transfer rate for the dollar was 328.05 buying, 337.05 selling; the euro was 363.3528 buying, 377.1336 selling; pound was 437.5954 buying, 451.7038 selling.

On the Colombo Stock Exchange the All Share Price Index was up 0.78 percent, or 165.42 points, at 21,405; while the S&P SL20 was up 0.58 percent, 35.19 points, at 6,080.

90,000 million rupees Treasury bills are to be issued through an auction on November 11. (Colombo/Nov9/2026)