Asia Financial Services

What are the next steps to accelerate the transition into a digital financial system?

While advanced economies generate the vast majority of insurance and reinsurance business, emerging markets are posting higher rates of growth. Complementing this underlying trend is a strong and expanding interest in catastrophic risk, which by nature tends to pertain to emerging markets. This is coming alongside fast-paced, sector-...

A growing economy, changing demographics and investment by major international companies are all contributing to the growth of Sri Lanka’s insurance sector. Alongside this, ongoing regulatory changes to stabilise the sector have catalysed mergers and acquisitions, and further consolidation looks likely.

Monetary tightening and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) flexible exchange rate policy served to cool the economy by slowing down credit to desired levels and controlling inflation to some degree. The economy, which saw significant weakness in 2016 and the first quarter of 2017, readjusted accordingly. Starting in February 2017 foreign...

Sri Lanka had a challenging year in 2017, with GDP growth slowing notably to 3.3% in the third quarter, from 4.6% during the same period the previous year. The country was affected by a series of natural disasters and a dengue fever epidemic, which impacted tourist arrivals, retail, construction and agriculture, while driving the inflation...

After an uncertain period, the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is back on an upward trajectory, supported by the improving economic climate. The market will see significant reforms in 2018 to strengthen regulation, increase the bourse’s independence and efficiency, and broaden the range of products available.

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