Bond yields decrease on moderate activity

• Rupee appreciates marginally

By Wealth Trust Securities

The secondary market bond yields reflected a downward movement yesterday as the liquid maturities of 01.05.27 and 15.09.27 hit an intraday low of 26.75% and 26.60% respectively against its previous day’s closing level of 26.90/05 and 26.80/00. 

In addition, traded were reported on the maturities of 15.01.28 and 01.07.32 at levels of 25.05% to 25.10% and 22.00% to 22.50% respectively as well. In secondary market bills, the latest 182-day bill changed hands at levels of 25.20%.

The total secondary market Treasury bond/bill transacted volume for 24 May 2023 was Rs.96.25 billion.

In money markets, the weighted average rates on overnight call money and REPO stood at 16.50% each while an amount of Rs.73.87 billion was withdrawn from Central Banks SLFR (Standard Lending Facility Rate) of 16.50%.

The DOD (Domestic Operations Department) of Central Bank injected liquidity by way of a 31-day reverse repo auction for a volume of Rs.40.00 billion at weighted average rate of 19.93%, valued today.

Forex Market 

In the Forex market, the USD/LKR rate on spot contracts were traded within the range of Rs.302.40 to Rs. 303.80 yesterday before closing the day at Rs. 302.00/302.40 against its previous day’s closing level of Rs.303.50/304.20.

The total USD/LKR traded volume for 24 May was $ 105.65 million.