Secondary market bond yields broadly steady ahead of policy announcement

By Wealth Trust Securities

The yields in the secondary bond markets were seen closing the day broadly steady yesterday, subsequent to changing hands within a thin range on the back of considerable volumes. 

This was ahead of today’s monetary policy announcement for May. At last month’s announcement, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka was seen reducing policy rates by 50 basis points (0.50%) for the first time in 15 months to 6.00% and 7.50%. 

Activity centred the liquid maturities of 01.06.2018, 01.07.2019, 15.09.2019, 01.08.2021, 01.07.2022, 01.09.2023 and 01.01.2024 within the range of 7.64% to 7.66%, 8.01% to 8.05%, 8.02% to 8.04%, 8.40% to 8.42, 8.53% to 8.55%, 8.66% to 8.70% and 8.78% to 8.80% respectively. 

Meanwhile, overnight call money and repo rates averaged at 6.11% and 5.79% respectively as surplus liquidity stood at Rs. 122.54 billion yesterday.

Rupee remains steady

The rupee on active three-month forward contracts remained mostly unchanged to close the day at 136.45/55 while the rate on spot contracts remained at Rs. 133.70. The total USD/LKR traded volume for the previous day (20-05-15) stood at $ 29.05 million. 

The six months forward dollar rate that prevailed in the market was 137.80/10.