Rupee falls for sixth session; stocks snap 5-day losing streak

Friday, 3 May 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A man counts Sri Lankan rupees at a money exchange counter in Colombo September 4 - REUTERS

REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee fell for the sixth consecutive session on Thursday on dollar demand from banks amid security alerts on possible further attacks after the Easter Sunday bombings.

Stocks closed lower for the first time in six sessions.

Sri Lankan officials said on Tuesday security forces were maintaining a high level of alert after intelligence reports that Islamist militants were planning fresh attacks before the start of Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka said on Tuesday that some of the Islamist militants behind the Easter Sunday bombings that killed more than 250 people were likely still at large and could be planning more attacks.

The rupee fell 0.34 percent to 176.60/177.00 per dollar from Tuesday’s close of 176.00/30, market sources said. Sri Lankan markets were closed on Wednesday for the International Labour day.

Analysts fear it could weaken further due to outflows from stocks and government securities.

The island’s currency lost 0.8 percent last week, but is up 3.8 percent this year, as exporters converted dollars amid stabilising investor confidence after the country repaid a $1 billion sovereign bond in mid-January.

The rupee dropped 16 percent in 2018, and was one of the worst-performing currencies in Asia due to heavy foreign outflows.

Foreign investors bought a net 268.2 million rupees worth of government securities in the week ended April 24, the first net buying in four weeks, but they have sold a net 6.6 billion rupees worth of securities so far this year, the latest central bank data showed.

The benchmark stock index ended 0.36 percent lower on Thursday at 5,458.78. It hit its lowest close since Dec. 7, 2012 on April 23 and also posted its biggest percentage fall since Feb. 14, 2012 on the same day.

Turnover was 148.6 million rupees ($842,404), lower than this year’s daily average of 586.2 million rupees. Last year’s daily average was 834 million rupees.

Foreign investors bought a net 9.4 million rupees worth of shares on Thursday, but they have been net sellers of 4.4 billion rupees worth of equities so far this year.

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