Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Haycarb records turnover of Rs.5.9Bn and PBT of Rs.458Mn for 1H 2016/17

(PRESS RELEASE) – The Sri Lankan multinational Haycarb PLC reported a revenue of Rs. 5.9 billion and profit before tax of Rs. 458 million for the six months ending 30th September 2016. The profit after tax stood at Rs. 374 million. The turnover increased by 8%, while the profit before tax and after tax recorded a growth of 10% and 7% respectively compared to the first half of the previous year.

Haycarb PLC Managing Director Mr. Rajitha Kariyawasan said that while the company’s initiatives to strengthen raw material supply chain networks in Sri Lanka and Thailand have made progress, the raw material supply chain in Indonesia faced setbacks due to adverse weather conditions and increased exports of charcoal.

He further said that “while depressed conditions in the gold mining sector continues to impact the profitability, the raw material situation in Indonesia will be an additional challenge the company will have to contend with, in the short term. On a positive note he added that successes in marketing and new product development initiatives resulting in the acquisition of new customer accounts and
product segments increased the market reach of the company which is reflected in the improved top and bottom line. This was  omplemented by lean initiatives that streamlined processes which brought in cost efficiencies and productivity improvements.” He expressed confidence that the environmental engineering arm Puritas (Pvt.) Ltd., will continue on its strong growth trajectory in the
second half of the year.

In the background of increasing emphasis on environmental sustainability worldwide Haycarb remains positive in its medium to long term outlook in its activated carbon and water treatment systems businesses.

Haycarb is the pioneer manufacturer of coconut shell activated carbon in any coconut producing country with manufacturing facilities in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia supported by marketing offices in the USA, UK and Australia. The company contributes net foreign exchange revenues with its value adding processes whilst remaining a leading and technologically superior manufacturer in its chosen segment.

The Board of Directors of Haycarb PLC comprises of Messrs Mohan Pandithage – Chairman, Rajitha Kariyawasan – Managing Director, Dhammika Perera, Arjun Senaratna, Sarath Ganegoda, Mrs. Jeevani Abeyratne, Dushantha Ranaraja, Nimal Perera, Dr. Sarath Abayawardana, Sujeewa Rajapakse, M. S. P. Udaya Kumara, Brahman Balaratnarajah, Ali Asgar Caderbhoy, Ms. Sharmila
Ragunathan and James Naylor.

 

Read more ...

ACCESS ENGINEERING - DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT

Date of Announcement: - 02.Nov.2016
Rate of Dividend: - Rs. 0.50 per share / Interim Dividend
Financial Year: - 2016/2017
XD: - 11.Nov.2016
Payment: - 23.Nov.2016
Share Transfer Book Open

 

Read more ...

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Asia stocks wallow at 6-wk lows, China PMIs in focus; oil down

HONG KONG, Nov 1 (Reuters) – Asian stocks wallowed near six-week lows on Tuesday as investors braced for a looming raft of economic and central bank events, while oil prices fell as markets doubted OPEC’s ability to implement planned production cuts.

Market anxiety deepened in recent sessions after the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Friday said it was investigating newly discovered emails that might relate to democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server when she was secretary of state.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.14 percent in early trades, its lowest levels in since Sept. 19. October marked the first monthly loss for the index since May.

Investor trepidation was captured in a broad gauge measuring volatility, which was at its highest levels in a month. The focus on the day turns to twin China factor PMI surveys due shortly, while later in the day Bank of Japan decides on policy, followed by a U.S. Federal Reserve rates review on Wednesday.

The Nov. 8 election in the United States remained a key concern for markets. Clinton is viewed as the candidate of the status quo, while there is greater uncertainty over what a victory for her Republican rival Donald Trump might mean for U.S. foreign policy, international trade deals and the domestic economy.

Australian shares were down in early trade ahead of a central bank meeting due at 0330 GMT where analysts widely expect rates to stay on a record low of 1.5 percent.

“Despite the soft underbelly in last week’s CPI report, the Reserve Bank of Australia is likely to make few changes to its statement as it continues to balance the weak underlying inflation pulse with rising financial stability concerns,” ANZ strategists wrote in a daily note.

The Bank of Japan is expected to maintain monetary settings and its projection of a moderate economic recovery on Tuesday, even as weak consumption and external headwinds force it to concede that inflation will remain distant from its target for years to come.

Major Wall Street indices closed slightly lower with the Dow Jones industrial average down 0.1 percent to end at 18,142.42, the S&P 500 down 0.01 percent and the Nasdaq Composite slipping 0.02 percent, to end at 5,189.14.

Broad-based weakness in equities bolstered bond prices with U.S. Treasury bond yields falling across the board with two to 30-year yields slipping between two to four basis points. In early Asian trade, Japanese and Australian bond yields also pushed lower.

Foreign exchange markets were a more quieter place with major currencies hemmed in narrow trading ranges. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six global peers, was flat around 98.41 after a solid run since September.

U.S. crude stabilised around $47 per barrel after falling nearly 4 percent while global benchmark Brent was flat around $48.61 a barrel after falling nearly 1.5 percent in overnight trades.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) approved a document on Monday outlining its long-term strategy, a sign its members are achieving consensus on managing production.

But OPEC representatives have achieved little otherwise, failing to reach any specific terms, and sources said Iran has been reluctant to even freeze output.

 

Read more ...

Sri Lanka ranks 31st in Global Youth Development Index

Nov 01, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has been ranked 31st in the Global Youth Development Index (YDI) 2016 based on a country’s condition for the youth in terms of employment, education, health, civic and political spheres.

The YDI is a composite index of 18 indicators that collectively measure multi-dimensional progress on youth development in 183 countries was compiled by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

It includes 49 of the 53 Commonwealth countries and has five domains measuring levels of education, health and well-being, employment and opportunity, political participation and civic participation for young people.

“Of the eight South Asian countries, five improved their YDI scores, with the largest improvements being made in Sri Lanka and India,” the report said.

India was placed 133rd in the index, below the neighboring countries like Nepal (77), Bhutan (69).

The top 10 countries on the index are Germany, Denmark, Australia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Portugal and Japan respectively.

 

Read more ...

SIERRA CABLES - CORPORATE DISCLOSURE

https://cdn.cse.lk/cmt/upload_cse_announcements/7781477972053_.pdf

Read more ...

NAMAL ACUITY VALUE FUND - NET ASSET VALUE as of October 31,2016 is Rs. 133.21 per unit.

 

Read more ...

CANDOR OPPORTUNITIES FUND - NET ASSET VALUE as at October 31,2016 is Rs. 10.22.

 

Read more ...

DISTILLERIES COMPANY OF SRI LANKA - CORPORATE DISCLOSURE

https://cdn.cse.lk/cmt/upload_cse_announcements/271477986293_.pdf

Read more ...