Dull sentiment in secondary bond markets continues

By Wealth Trust Securities

The dull sentiment in the secondary bond market continued yesterday as activity dried up considerably. The 15.09.19 and 01.08.26 maturities traded within the range of 11.54% to 11.55% and 11.90% to 11.95% respectively on the back of thin volumes.

In money markets, the overnight repo rate dipped marginally to average 8.68% as the net deficit in the system decreased to Rs. 38.62 billion yesterday. The Open Market Operations (OMO) Department of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka injected an amount of Rs. 40.00 billion on an overnight basis by way of a Reverse Repo auction at a W. Avg of 8.49%. The overnight call money rate stood at 8.44%.

Rupee fluctuates    

 The USD/LKR rate on the one week forward contracts appreciated to levels of Rs. 148.10/15 against its previous day’s closing levels of Rs. 148.35/45 before closing at levels of Rs. 148.20/25 on the back of export conversions.

The total USD/LKR traded volume for 4 November 2016 was $ 69.50 million.

Some of the forward USD/LKR rates that prevailed in the market were one month - 148.80/90; three months -150.75/90 and six months - 153.25/50.