News & market updates

Stocks rose and Brent crude fell about 6% to $98.30/bbl after reports the U.S. sought a month-long ceasefire with Iran; S&P 500 futures were up 0.9% and European futures 1.2%. Bond yields eased a few basis points even as markets still price further central-bank rate hikes.

Global markets retreated as Brent rose ~4.2% to $104.21/bbl and U.S. crude to $91.93, while U.S. Treasury yields climbed, reversing a brief relief rally amid ongoing Middle East tensions. The dollar strengthened and spot gold fell about 1%.

Asia shares fell while US 10-year Treasury yields hit an eight-month high of 4.415% as the Gulf war escalated and Brent oil traded around $112.62 a barrel, lifting inflation and pushing markets to price out rate cuts.

CBSL said banking gross loans rose 21.4% y/y and finance company lending rose 51.9% at end-2025, with Stage 3 loan ratios falling to 9.7% (banks) and 6.1% (finance companies). Liquidity and capital buffers eased but remained above regulatory minima; ASPI gained 41.9% and the rupee depreciated 5.6%.

Central Bank reports credit expanded sharply in 2025: banking gross loans rose 21.4% y/y and finance companies' gross loans rose 51.9% y/y. Asset quality improved (stage‑3 loans down), liquidity and CAR moderated but stayed above regulatory minima; ASPI +41.9%, rupee −5.6%.

Asian markets were cautious as Gulf hostilities kept oil elevated (Brent $104.01/bbl), complicating the inflation outlook and likely keeping most central banks on pause this week. The Fed is widely expected to hold while the RBA may hike to 4.1%.

Asian stocks fell as Iran-related fighting kept oil around $100 a barrel and trimmed expectations for US rate cuts, lifting the dollar and raising inflation and market volatility.

Bitget aims to capture 40% of tokenized stock trading by 2030 and is expanding its TradeFi Hub to offer one-click access to tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, treasury products and stock perpetual futures, enabling 24/7, fractional and faster-settling markets.

Global markets steadied after a brief oil pullback following reports the IEA proposed the largest-ever release of reserves, with Brent at $87.89/bbl. Investors remain anxious as intensified Middle East fighting raises inflation risk, supporting the dollar and keeping bond yields and central-bank hawkishness in focus.

Brent crude topped $119/barrel (trading around $110) after US-Israel strikes on Iran, a ~50% rise since Feb 28 that sent global stocks lower; gold benchmarks climbed above $5,400/oz, lifting the metal's estimated market value to $30–35 trillion.

Sri Lanka's official reserve assets reached USD 7,284 million at end‑February 2026, the first time above USD 7 billion since August 2020. Foreign currency reserves rose to USD 7,057m and gold reserves jumped 83.4% to USD 200m; the total includes proceeds from a swap with the People's Bank of China.

Asia-Pacific stocks were set for their steepest weekly fall in six years while Brent crude rose to around $83/barrel as the Middle East conflict intensified. U.S. Treasury yields climbed about 18 basis points this week and the dollar posted its largest weekly gain in 16 months.

Bitget launched a global mobile app upgrade that places crypto and TradFi side-by-side and aims to handle 40% of tokenized stock trading by 2030 (about $15–$30tn), consolidating crypto and TradFi products under unified Trade and TradFi tabs for one-click access.

Global markets were volatile as the escalating Middle East conflict pushed oil up (Brent ~$81.18, nearly $10 above last Friday), drove sharp equity losses in Asia (South Korea KOSPI -12%), and lifted US Treasury yields (10-year 4.08%), stoking inflation and rate-cut worries.

Gold rose 0.8% to $5,177.26/oz as the widening Middle East conflict boosted safe-haven demand and a softer dollar; U.S. April futures were up 1% at $5,186.40. The piece also notes Fed chair nomination and upcoming U.S. jobs data that could affect rates.

Seylan Bank PLC has launched an online interest and part-payment facility for its gold loans and pawning, allowing customers to settle interest and make partial repayments digitally without visiting branches.

Fitch says a prolonged Iran conflict disrupting Gulf energy and shipping would lift prices and cash flows for upstream APAC energy exporters while squeezing margins and working capital for downstream refiners, chemicals, fertiliser and some metals producers. Australian and Indonesian exporters and gold miners are likely near-term beneficiaries, while refiners with regulated fuel prices face heightened cash-flow risk.

Asian stocks slid as investors feared a wider Middle East conflict could spark an energy shock; Seoul plunged 4% (two-day losses over 11%) while Brent crude jumped over 12% to $81.40/bbl. Markets flagged higher inflation and delayed rate-cut expectations, and gold fell about 4.5%.

Global markets plunged as Mideast tensions pushed oil prices higher, with the S&P 500 down 2.4%, the Dow 2.5% (−1,232 pts) and the Nasdaq 2.7%; gold fell 4.9% to $5,051/oz.

Seylan Bank PLC launched an Online Interest and Part Payment Facility for Seylan Gold Loans and Pawning, allowing customers to settle interest and make part payments digitally via the bank's digital channels without visiting branches.

Gold rose for a fifth straight session, with spot gold up 1% to $5,377.21/oz, as investors sought safe havens amid escalating U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and fears the conflict could widen. The reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens a fifth of global oil flows, lifting other precious metals and disrupting shipping and air transport.

U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran sent oil sharply higher (WTI ~+8% to $72.70, Brent ~+9% to ~$79.19), dragging global equities lower and lifting gold and the dollar; bond yields fell while higher-than-expected wholesale inflation may complicate Fed rate-cut timing.

US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, raising the risk of a wider Middle East conflict that could push Brent crude (around $73) toward roughly $80 and, if supply is disrupted, possibly near $100. Markets may see heightened volatility, safe-haven flows into gold and Treasuries, and pressure on Gulf equities and airlines.

Asia markets rose (MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan ~+1%), led by Korean chipmakers as AI sentiment improved; investors also watched the yen and BOJ/Fed rate outlook. Traders awaited the US State of the Union while oil gained ~0.75% and gold was flat.

Amana Takaful Life PLC's Gold Investment Fund returned 32.4% for the year to December 2025. Its Growth Multiple Fund and Volatile Multiple Fund returned 23.5% and 23.6% respectively, and the company highlighted flexible fund switching and plans to boost investment capabilities and digital platforms.

Asian stocks slipped after a Wall Street selloff driven by uncertainty over U.S. tariff policy and AI-related risks; MSCI's Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index was down about 0.2%.

Spot gold fell 1.5% to $5,150.38 per ounce after hitting a more-than-three-week high, as a firmer dollar outweighed support from U.S. tariff uncertainty and Washington‑Tehran tensions.

Vallibel Finance (VFIN.N0000) opened three new branches in Batticaloa, Valaichchenai and Trincomalee to expand customer access to leasing, loans, gold loans and microfinance. The company noted its modern digital framework and A- LRA credit rating.

Wall Street futures and the dollar fell after confusion over new U.S. tariffs — including a surprise shift to a 15% global rate — revived 'sell America' flows. Nvidia's upcoming results will test the AI sector, while gold rose, oil eased and Treasury moves raised concerns about a roughly $170bn revenue hit that could widen the fiscal deficit.

HNB Finance PLC reported PAT of Rs. 1.15 billion for the nine months to 31 Dec 2025, up 152% YoY, with PBT of Rs. 1.88 billion (up 209%). Assets rose 46% to Rs. 85.6bn and deposits grew 45% to Rs. 61.0bn; loan book +53% (leasing +81%, gold loans +52%).