Friday Mar 13, 2026
Friday Mar 13, 2026
Thursday, 12 March 2026 04:49 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Wealth Trust Securities
The weekly Treasury Bill auction conducted yesterday saw weighted average yields decline marginally. Accordingly, the rate on the 91-day Bill dipped by 2 basis points to 7.61% and the rate on the 182-day Bill edged lower by a 1 basis point to 7.91%. However, the 364-day Bill saw its yield hold static at 8.23%.
The auction was undersubscribed at the first phase in competitive bidding. The auction raised only Rs 96.72 billion, or 74.40% of the total offered amount of Rs. 130 billion. The bid-to-cover ratio stood at 2.33 times.
The Phase II subscription only on the 182-day and 364-day maturities is now open until 3.00 pm of business day prior to settlement date (i.e., 12.03.2026) at the WAYRs determined for the said ISINs at the auction.
In the meantime, the secondary Bond market saw rates hold broadly steady and consolidate at prevailing levels. Market activity and transaction volumes were seen at healthy levels.
In terms of the Secondary Bond market trade summary, the 15.09.27 maturity traded at the rate of 8.56%. The 15.03.28 maturity traded at the rate of 9.12%-9.15%. The 15.09.29 and 15.12.29 maturities traded at the rates of 9.50% and 9.55% respectively. The 01.03.30 maturity traded at the rate of 9.65%. The 01.06.33 maturity traded at the rate of 10.50%. The 15.06.34 maturity traded at the rate of 10.75%-10.76%.
The total secondary market Treasury Bond/Bill transacted volume for 10 March was Rs. 7.51 billion.
In money market, the net liquidity surplus in money market was recorded at Rs. 394.53 billion yesterday. The Domestic Operations Department (DOD) of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka was seen draining out an amount of Rs. 150 billion by way of overnight repo auction at a weighted average rate of 7.40% and an amount of Rs. 90 billion by way of seven-day REPO auction at a weighted average rate of 7.61%.
Further an amount of Rs. 154.56 billion was deposited at Central Bank’s SDFR (Standing Deposit Facility Rate) of 7.25% as against an amount of Rs. 0.04 billion withdrawn from the Central Bank’s SDFR (Standing Deposit Facility Rate) of 8.25%.
The weighted average rates on overnight call money and Repo yesterday stood at 7.62% and 7.61% respectively.
Forex market
In the Forex market, the USD/LKR rate on spot contracts closed the day at 310.85/310.95, as against its previous day’s closing level of Rs. 310.90/311.00.
The total USD/LKR traded volume for 10 March was Rs. 108.90 million.
(References: Public Debt Management Office - Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Bloomberg E-Bond Trading Platform, Money Broking Companies)
