📈 SL Bond Market Bullish on Favorable 2026 Budget Outlook

The secondary Government securities market saw a second consecutive week of bullish momentum, driven by strong demand and positive sentiment following the 2026 Budget reading. • Bond Market Trends: Robust activity and transaction volumes pushed yields sharply lower, causing a downward shift in the yield curve, particularly across 2026–2030 maturities. • Example: The 01.07.28 maturity yield declined from an intra-week high of 9.17% to a low of 9.00%. • Daily secondary market transacted volumes averaged Rs. 13.99 Bn for the first three days. • Foreign holdings of rupee-denominated securities remained static at Rs. 141.32 Bn. • Budget 2026 Projections (Key Drivers): The bullish sentiment was supported by Budget statements outlining continued macro-fiscal discipline and key targets for 2026: • Economic growth projected at 4%-5%. • Primary Budget Balance of 2.5% of GDP. • Budget Deficit maintained at 5.1% of GDP. • Government revenue expected to exceed 15.4% of GDP. • Additional positive development: Expectation of national carrier debt restructuring by December. • Money & Forex Markets: • Inter-bank liquidity surplus reduced to Rs. 118.29 Bn (from Rs. 155.05 Bn the previous week). • USD/LKR spot rate depreciated, closing the week at Rs. 304.80/304.90 (vs. Rs. 304.35/304.45 prior week). • Daily average USD/LKR traded volume stood at US$ 119.7 Mn (first four trading days).