Rs. 45 b bond auctions in focus

By Wealth Trust Securities 

The primary Treasury bond auctions due today will see a total volume of Rs. 45 billion on offer, consisting of Rs. 25 billion of a 15.03.2025 maturity and Rs. 20 billion of a 01.05.2029 maturity. At the auctions conducted on 11 March, an amount of Rs. 74.06 billion was taken up in total against a total offered amount of Rs. 120 billion. The weighted average rates were recorded at 14.41%, 14.70% and 15.42% on the maturities of 01.08.2024, 15.06.2027 and 01.12.2031 respectively. 

Meanwhile, the secondary bond market was at a standstill yesterday with only the 01.09.23 maturity changing hands at a level of 14.00%.

The total secondary market Treasury bond/bill transacted volume for 25 March was Rs. 1.51 billion.  

In money markets, the net liquidity deficit stood at Rs. 499.93 billion yesterday as an amount of Rs. 116.97 billion was deposited at Central Banks SDFR (Standard Deposit Facility Rate) of 6.50% against an amount of Rs. 616.55 billion withdrawn from Central Banks SLFR (Standard Deposit Facility Rate) of 7.50%. The weighted average rates on overnight Call money and REPO stood at 7.49% and 7.50% respectively.

Forex Market 

In the Forex market, overall activity remained moderate yesterday.

The total USD/LKR traded volume for 25 March was $ 35.70 million.  

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