Sri Lanka rupee closed weaker around 196.50/197.00 levels to the US dollar in the one-week forward market on Monday, while bond yields edged up on selling pressure, dealers said.

The rupee last closed in one-week forward market at 194.50/195.50 levels on Friday.

In the secondary market bond yields gained on selling pressure but the market remained dull, dealers said.

“Commencing the fresh week of trading, the secondary market yield curve shifted slightly upwards on the back of selling pressure whilst the overall market witnessed thin volumes,” FirstCapital Market Research said.

Sri Lanka’s debt office is offering 38 billion rupees bills in a weekly bills auction to be held on February 17. The 38 billion rupees bills will be split into 5 billion rupees maturing in 3-months, 8-billion rupees maturing in 6-months and 25-billion rupees maturing in 12-months.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2022 closed at 5.60/75 per cent on Monday, steady from 5.60/65 per cent at Friday’s close.

A bond maturing on 01.10.2023 closed at 6.00/6.10 per cent on Monday, up from 5.95/6.00 per cent on Friday.

A bond maturing on 01.12.2024 closed at 6.67/77 per cent, up from 6.60/65 per cent from the previous day’s close.

A bond maturing on 01.05.2025 closed at 6.90/7.10 per cent on Monday, up from 6.80/7.00 per cent.

A bond maturing on 15.08.2027 closed at 7.30/50 per cent on Monday up from 7.25/40 per cent.

A bond maturing on 15.05.2030 closed at 8.00/20 per cent on Monday, up from 7.80/10 per cent at Friday’s end.

–ECONOMYNEXT-