Macrofinancial Conditions Domestic macrofinancial conditions strengthened further in 2025, supporting continued credit expansion, although external vulnerabilities remained a concern. Credit growth accelerated markedly, with total credit extended by banks and Finance Companies (FCs) rising by end‑2025. The financial sector’s exposure shifted further toward the private sector, driven by strong private sector credit growth, while exposure…
The Colombo stock market recorded a sharp decline today (17), with the All Share Price Index (ASPI) falling by 521.17 points at the close of trading. Accordingly, the ASPI settled at 20,418.09, marking the fifth consecutive day of losses at the Colombo bourse. Meanwhile, the S&P SL20 Index also declined by 123.94 points during the…
The Hindu Businessline – India is currently negotiating six Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with different countries and regional groups as part of its efforts to expand trade partnerships, according to information released by the Ministry of Commerce. The ministry said negotiations are ongoing with Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and Israel….
For merchants: UPI provides access to a large, digitally savvy customer base, improves cash management, reduces dependence on physical currency and enhances operational efficiency For travellers: UPI offers the convenience of real-time payments, transparent exchange rates, and a familiar, secure payment experience NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation…
Reuters – Oil prices rose around 3% on Tuesday, clawing back some of the previous session’s losses on renewed supply fears, with the Strait of Hormuz largely shut and U.S. allies rejecting calls to deploy warships to escort tankers through the key chokepoint. Brent futures jumped $3.07, or 3.1%, to $103.28 a barrel by 0734…
British Airways announces major winter 2026 expansion The airline’s long-haul route network is set to grow by nine per cent* New destinations include Melbourne in Australia and Colombo in Sri Lanka Expansion includes boost to winter capacity on several popular leisure routes including Cape Town, Tokyo and Barbados In response to the Middle East conflict, the airline also added additional flights to Bangkok and Singapore British Airways Holidays notes customers looking for alternative getaways, with an increase of more than 50 per…
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with Verité Research, successfully conducted its second training programme, “Leveraging Trade Data for Export Success,” for women-led exporters in Kandy on 20th February 2026. This initiative was part of the EDB’s Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme. Following the successful programme held in Colombo, the Kandy session was…
Inside the 2026 Oscars $350,000 gift bag, from a custom prenup to the ‘Hermès of marijuana’ NBC Universal – Every year, the Oscars celebrate the best performances in film, and every year, a select group of nominees walk away with something almost as headline‑grabbing as the awards themselves: the legendary “Everyone Wins” nominee gift bag. The six‑figure…
Reuters – Oil prices rose more than 2% in early trade on Tuesday, reversing some of the previous session’s losses, on worries about supply with the Strait of Hormuz mostly shut and U.S. allies rebuffing calls to send warships to help tankers move through the vital waterway. Brent futures jumped $2.48, or 2.5%, to $102.69…
Purchasing Managers’ Indices indicate expansions in both Manufacturing and Services activities in February 2026. Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers’ Index for Manufacturing (PMI – Manufacturing) recorded an index value of 56.8 in February 2026, indicating a continued expansion in manufacturing activities. All sub-indices contributed positively to this expansion. Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers’ Index for Services (PMI – Services)…
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