Bonds yields decrease marginally

By Wealth Trust Securities

The start of the trading week saw secondary market bond yields decrease marginally, with moderate volumes changing hands. 

Buying interest of the 15.07.23 and two 2024s (i.e. 15.06.24 and 15.09.24) resulted in their yields decreasing to daily lows of 9.34%, 9.65% and 9.63% respectively against Fridays closing levels of 9.30/45 and 9.70/75 each.  

Furthermore, the 2021 maturities (i.e. 01.05.21 and 15.12.21) too, traded at levels of 8.55% and 8.70%.   

The total secondary market Treasury bond/Bill transacted volume for 27 December was Rs.7.27 billion.

In money markets, the Open Market Operations (OMO) Department of the Central Bank refrained from conducting any auctions yesterday as the overnight net liquidity surplus in the system stood at a high Rs. 45.49 billion. The overnight call money and repo rates averaged at 7.49% and 7.53% respectively.

Rupee loses    

In the Forex market, the USD/LKR rate on spot contracts was seen depreciating yesterday to close the day at Rs.181.65/75 against its previous day’s closing levels of Rs.181.45/55 on the back of buying interest by Banks.

The total USD/LKR traded volume for 27 December was $ 60.51 million.

Some of the forward USD/LKR rates that prevailed in the market were one month – 182.10/30; three months – 183.15/30 and six months – 184.65/80.

(References: Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Bloomberg E-Bond trading platform, money broking companies.)