Average yield rates decline across the board for third consecutive week

Market participants in the secondary market exhibited mixed sentiment, pivoting from the dull sentiment on Tuesday, observing thin trading volumes and limited market activity, according to First Capital Research.

The secondary market yield curve edged down slightly by 5bps across 3M, 6M and 1Yr maturities, following the weekly T-Bill auction results. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) conducted its weekly T-Bill auction on Tuesday, successfully raising LKR 120.0 Bn, with the total offered amount being fully accepted across all maturities, the research organisation said.

The 1Yr bill attracted the most interest, while weighted average yield rates declined across the board for the third consecutive week. The 03M bill closed at 8.62% (04bps), the 06M bill at 8.77% (-04bps), and the 1Yr bill at 8.96% (-06bps).

Amongst the traded maturities, 15.09.27 traded at a range of 9.85% to 9.80% whilst 15.02.28 and 15.03.28 traded in the range of 10.15% to 10.10% and both the maturities 01.05.28 and 01.07.28 traded between 10.05% to 10.03%.

Meanwhile, on the external front, the LKR depreciated against the USD, closing at LKR 295.61/USD compared to LKR 293.17/USD recorded the previous day.

Similarly, the LKR depreciated against other major currencies such as the GBP, EUR, AUD, CNY, and JPY.

CBSL holdings of government securities remained unchanged, closing at LKR 2,515.62Bn on Tuesday.

Overnight liquidity in the banking system contracted to LKR 159.37Bn from LKR 197.51Bn recorded the previous day.

On Tuesday, the stock market experienced a day of volatility, driven by mixed sentiment among investors. The index opened in negative territory but recovered after the first hour of trading, supported by increased activity in the Banking sector and prominent blue-chip stocks, First Capital Research said.

HNB PLC, was once again ranked among Sri Lanka’s Top 10 Best Corporate Citizens at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards (BCCSA) 2024.

Notably, this marks the 15th consecutive year HNB has earned this sought-after distinction, underscoring its enduring leadership in sustainability, corporate responsibility, and governance.

In addition to being placed among the Top 10 Best Corporate Citizens, HNB received three more prestigious accolades at the BCCSA 2024 awards, including recognition under the Triple Bottom Line Profit category, the Category Award for Economic Contribution, and the Best Project Sustainability award.

Commenting on the significance of the Bank’s outstanding performance at this year’s awards, HNB Managing Director/CEO, Damith Pallewatte said: “Our nation has reached a critical juncture. Moving forward, it is imperative that public and private sectors shoulder greater responsibility in the broader national effort to drive inclusive, sustainable development. This award serves as another important validation of HNB’s own efforts to lead this change, and we remain committed to serving as a steadfast partner in progress to all Sri Lankans.”

HNB’s success at BCCSA was attributed to its strategic focus on delivering efficient, ethical, and sustainable banking solutions to all segments of Sri Lankan society. Driven by an unwavering focus on securing equitable local and global partnerships that uplift both the rural and national economy.

Most recently, HNB has championed initiatives in green financing and sustainability, technological innovation, and community development, including facilitation of investments into critical infrastructure, and healthcare.

This includes pioneering initiatives like HNB Sarusara, which aim to transform Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector, boost national food security, and improve livelihoods for farmers across Sri Lanka.

Through the Sarusara Programme, HNB is committed to revitalizing Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector, uplifting rural economies, and enhancing national food security. Since launching in 2024, the programme as already engaged approximately 30,000 agripreneurs across the country by modernizing their agricultural practices and improving business outcomes. It promotes the adoption of cutting-edge agricultural techniques and technologies to enhance efficiency and yields, while supporting market access and export opportunities.

With Sarusara, HNB offers tailored financial products and services specifically designed to meet the needs of agripreneurs, thereby facilitating easier access to funding for agricultural ventures. Additionally, training and skill development are integral components of the program, equipping agripreneurs with the knowledge required to thrive in a competitive market.

Together with an exemplary record on transparency, accountability, and governance, HNB continues to set new benchmarks in banking and corporate excellence.

by Sanath Nanayakkare

The UK government has woken up to the practice of healthwashing that some companies indulge in marketing their products by adding certain attributes in the marketing spin, according to an article in the Cambridge dictionary blog.

“Healthwashing is a practice where products such as food and vitamins are labelled in a way that suggests they are healthier than they actually are. By doing this, they increase the price of the product by a significant percentage and prey on the consumers by taking advantage of their health concerns,” it notes.

Delving deeper into the less than honest practice of using the suffix- washing- in marketing spin, the blog points out that Farmwashing is another practice where a company gives the impression that its products come from small, local, family-run farms, when this is not actually the case. Organic veg box company Riverford has teamed up with a group of British farmers to launch a new fairness campaign called “Farmers Against Farmwashing” aimed at exposing misleading supermarket “farmwashing” practices – where major supermarkets use fake farm brands and the overuse of the Union Jack to give shoppers the impression that their products come from quaint British family farms. However, much of the food is increasingly sourced from industrial mega farms or from overseas,”

“Meanwhile, Sanewashing is a practice where journalists or public figures portray someone with extreme ideas or policies as more reasonable and moderate than they actually are, in order to make the person more acceptable to a bigger number of people, The Poynter Institute, a journalism nonprofit, defines “sanewashing” as “the act of packaging radical and outrageous statements in a way that makes them seem normal.” “Sanewashing” is unusual in that it began not with politicians but with journalists, the Columbia Journalism Review suggests, or with people who pride themselves on not using clichés,” it notes.

Last but not least, greenwashing in marketing and advertising involves taking an existing product or service and spinning its environmentally friendly virtues even if there are none. It is hoped that Sri Lankan policymakers will also be alert and aware and watch such trends with the keenest of eyes.