Asia-Pacific Markets Navigate Geopolitical Hopes Amidst Regional Economic Headwinds

Asia-Pacific markets show cautious optimism following U.S.-Iran diplomatic efforts, yet regional economies grapple with currency volatility in India and operational challenges for China's airlines.

•May 22nd 26

Digital Services Tax in Sri Lanka: What You Need to Know

banking finance

Is the Digital Services VAT Gazette Ultra Vires? Should the VAT Act Be Amended Again?

Sanka De Alwis, ACA, B.Sc. (Bus. Admin. Sp.) (USJP) Tax Consultant•Sep 22nd 25

World Bank's Senior Managing Director, Axel van Trotsenburg, Photo: Reuters

banking finance

World Bank Demands Radical Debt Transparency and Its Impact on Sri Lanka

Finance Manifest•Jun 20th 25

Top Gainers

Chrissworld PLC

CWL.N0000

LKR22.50

25.00%

Paragon Ceylon PLC

PARA.N0000

LKR800.00

14.29%

Asiri Surgical Hospital PLC

AMSL.N0000

LKR21.20

11.58%

Hikkaduwa Beach Resort PLC

CITH.N0000

LKR5.80

11.54%

Office Equipment PLC

OFEQ.N0000

LKR627.00

11.37%

C M Holdings PLC

COLO.N0000

LKR44.40

11.00%

Acme Printing and Packaging PLC

ACME.N0000

LKR6.10

10.91%

Softlogic Holdings PLC

SHL.N0000

LKR14.30

10.00%

Cargo Boat Development Co. Ltd.

CABO.N0000

LKR219.75

9.88%

Tangerine Beach Hotels PLC

TANG.N0000

LKR112.50

8.70%

Lake House Printers & Publishers PLC

LPRT.N0000

LKR748.00

8.56%

Asia Siyaka Commodities Plc

ASIY.N0000

LKR14.10

8.46%

News

Iran Conflict Squeezes India's Gas Power Supply Amid Record Summer Demand

India's gas-fired power generation has fallen to a six-year low as geopolitical tensions disrupt fuel shipments during a record-breaking summer heatwave.

forex commodities•an hour ago

BlackRock's Saigal Sees 'Sufficient Factors' to Justify Fed Rate Cut Under Warsh

BlackRock Inc. suggests that the Federal Reserve, under the leadership of new chairman Kevin Warsh, has ample economic justification to pursue interest rate cuts rather than hikes.

federal reserve•7 hours ago

Asian Currencies Firm on Oil Relief and RBI Signals as China Trading Curbs Loom

The Indian rupee and other Asian currencies strengthened on hopes of a US-Iran deal and hawkish RBI comments, while regional markets digested new Chinese trading curbs and FTSE index cuts.

forex commodities•13 hours ago

Global Markets: Dollar Slumps and Gold Rises on Hormuz Progress; Asian Policy Shifts in Focus

The US dollar slumped and gold rose as signs of a US-Iran deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz boosted risk appetite, while Japan's rising bond yields and Indonesia's commodity export updates took center stage in Asia.

forex commodities•17 hours ago

Japan's Regulator Urges Corporate Shift From Shareholder Returns to Long-Term Growth

Japan's financial regulator is pushing listed companies to prioritize long-term capital investment over shareholder buybacks, signaling a major shift in corporate governance priorities.

stock market•19 hours ago

AI Faces Growing Resistance From College Campuses to the Vatican

Artificial intelligence is meeting unprecedented friction as Pope Leo XIV prepares an ethical encyclical alongside Anthropic's co-founder, while university students protest the technology's threat to future employment.

banking finance•May 24th 26

Global Markets on Edge as Trump Claims Imminent Iran Deal Amid ECB Rate Hike Threats

US President Donald Trump has touted an imminent peace deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while the ECB warns of rate hikes if inflation pressures from the conflict persist.

economic indicators•May 24th 26

Trump Signals Imminent Iran Peace Deal as ECB Warns of Rate Hikes Amid Energy Pressures

US President Donald Trump has signaled a nearing peace deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as the European Central Bank faces mounting pressure to hike interest rates due to war-fueled inflation.