T-Bill rates continue to hold broadly steady

Thursday, 20 November 2025 03:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Secondary Bond market yields continue to consolidate
Rupee appreciates slightly

By Wealth Trust Securities

The weighted average rates at the weekly Treasury Bill auction conducted yesterday remained broadly steady, with the yields on the 91-day and the 182-day tenors remaining unchanged at 7.52% and 7.91% respectively. However, the 364-day tenor registered a marginal decrease of 01 basis point to 8.03%. This marks the 18th week where T-Bill rates have stayed broadly anchored around prevailing levels.

However, the auction was undersubscribed, raising only 73.40% or Rs. 63.12 billion out of the Rs. 86 billion offered. This marks the third consecutive auction to undersubscribed whiles the bids received to offered amount ratio stood at 1.95 times.

The Phase II of subscription is now open across all three ISINs until 3.00 pm of business day prior to settlement date (i.e., 20.11.2025) at the WAYRs determined for the said ISINs at the auction. Given in the table are the details of the auction (Phase 1).

The secondary Bond market yesterday saw yields continue to consolidate. Trades were observed at happening in and around prevailing levels within a narrow band. Activity and transaction volumes were initially seen at healthy levels before tapering off to a virtual standstill.

In terms of the Secondary Bond market trade summary, 15.01.28 and 15.02.28 traded at the rate of 9.00% each and the 15.10.28 maturity at the rate of 9.07%. The 15.09.29 and 15.12.29 maturities were seen trading at the rates of 9.47% and 9.50%-9.49%. The 15.05.30 and 01.07.30 maturities were seen changing hands at the rate of 9.60% each. The 01.11.33 maturity traded at the rate of 10.48%-10.45% and the 15.06.35 maturity within the range of 10.70%-10.65%.

The total secondary market Treasury Bond/Bill transacted volume for 18 November was Rs. 6.47 billion.

In money markets, the weighted average rates on overnight call money and Repo stood at 7.93% and 7.96% respectively.

The net liquidity surplus was recorded at Rs. 95.62 billion yesterday as an amount of Rs. 96.86 billion was deposited at Central Banks SDFR (Standing Deposit Facility Rate) of 7.25%. An amount of Rs. 1.24 billion was withdrawn from the Central Banks SLFR (Standard Lending Facility Rate) of 8.25%.

Forex Market

In the Forex market, the USD/LKR rate on spot contracts to closed appreciating marginally to 308.10/308.50, as against its previous day’s closing level of Rs. 308.25/308.75.

The total USD/LKR traded volume for 18 November 2025 was $ 50.48 million.

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