empty
12.04.2022 10:01 PM
Emerging markets start to crumble: Sri Lanka nears default

On Tuesday, April 12. The central bank of Sri Lanka reported that the repayment of external debt according to the established schedule is no longer possible. The government is trying to actively use its dwindling foreign exchange reserves to import basic necessities such as fuel, leaving the repayment of coupon payments overboard until better times.

Emerging markets to crumble: Sri Lanka nears default

This image is no longer relevant

To date, it is known that the reserves of the island state have decreased by more than two-thirds, as tax cuts and the coronavirus pandemic have severely damaged its economy, which depends on tourism. Government spending caused by debt has become a heavy burden on the island's economy.

It has not been calm inside the state for a long time: street protests against the shortage of fuel, electricity, food and medicines have been going on for more than a month.

"We need to focus on the main imports and not worry about servicing the external debt," the head of the central bank of Sri Lanka, Nandalal Weerasinghe, told reporters. "It has come to the point that paying off the debt is difficult and impossible."

The head also said that payments will be suspended until the country comes to an agreement with creditors and with the support of a loan program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). On Monday, Sri Lanka begins formal negotiations with the world lender on the provision of emergency loans to support priority needs.

This year, the country has repayments on foreign debt in the amount of about $4 billion, including $1 billion international sovereign bonds maturing in July. Two coupons are due to be paid on Monday.

Murtaza Jafferji, the broker's representative, believes that we are talking about an inevitable default: "This is positive for the economy, because we used scarce resources in foreign currency to service our debt when we could not afford it. This will free up funds for our own citizens..."

He said Sri Lanka's decision covers about $25 billion of bilateral and commercial debt, including about $12 billion of international sovereign bonds.

Senior sovereign markets strategist Timothy Ash said that "my only surprise is that it took so long for the Colombo administration to come to terms with the reality on the ground."

"It is logical to declare a moratorium on payments until they develop a program with the IMF and agree on terms with bondholders," Timothy believes.

Sri Lanka's dollar-denominated sovereign bonds showed significant gains on Tuesday, with long-term issues rising by more than 1 cent in dollars, according to data from Tradeweb.

According to Refinitiv, the government's hard currency bonds are mostly trading at extremely problematic levels of just under 40 cents on the dollar, while bonds maturing on July 25 last traded at a price of just over 50 cents.

Governor Weerasinghe said the repayment call was accepted in good faith, stressing that the country of 22 million people has never violated its obligations to pay the debt.

Although the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has drawn the attention of economists, it should be noted that the impact of the pandemic has not been canceled. China is using unprecedented measures to restrict movement in large cities that have become targets of infection. All this affects the exports of one of the largest suppliers of raw materials and finished goods, again affecting supply schedules and increasing shortages in international markets.

In addition, the borrowing burden of developed countries is flowing into emerging markets and third world countries, forcing them to be the first to fall under the onslaught of inflation.

Obviously, we will see a similar picture in some other regions, especially among small states whose opportunities are limited by the lack of export diversification.

Egor Danilov,
Especialista em análise na InstaForex
© 2007-2025
Selecionar intervalo de tempo
5
min
15
min
30
min
1
hora
4
horas
1
dia
1
s.
Ganhe com as variações das taxas das criptomoedas com a InstaForex.
Baixe o MetaTrader 4 e abra a sua primeira operação.
  • Grand Choice
    Contest by
    InstaForex
    InstaForex always strives to help you
    fulfill your biggest dreams.
    PARTICIPE DO CONCURSO

Recommended Stories

Resumo de notícias do mercado dos EUA para 11 de abril

Após a explosiva recuperação de quarta-feira — desencadeada pelo anúncio do presidente Donald Trump de uma suspensão de 90 dias nas tarifas — os mercados dos EUA decidiram, na quinta-feira

Natalia Andreeva 18:47 2025-04-11 UTC+2

Montanha-russa: S&P 500 cai 3%, ouro atinge máximas históricas

Ações dos EUA caem após os eventos de quarta-feira, S&P 500 cai 3% Ações europeias e asiáticas fecham em alta depois que Trump suspende a maioria das tarifas Recuperação

Thomas Frank 17:55 2025-04-11 UTC+2

Por que as ações estão subindo enquanto o yuan cai e os futuros dos EUA recuam?

Ações sobem, mas futuros dos EUA caem Ações chinesas sobem mesmo com o yuan atingindo a mínima de vários anos Ações europeias sobem após Trump suspender tarifas Rodada do mercado

Thomas Frank 18:19 2025-04-10 UTC+2

Mercado dos EUA em 10 de abril: Reações ao Alívio nas Tarifas e Expectativas

S&P 500 atinge nova máxima histórica, mas resistência em 5.669 permanece como principal obstáculo. Suspensão temporária de tarifas impulsiona os ganhos: S&P 500 e Nasdaq encerram o dia em alta

Irina Maksimova 18:06 2025-04-10 UTC+2

Bitcoin luta para encontrar apoio enquanto a turbulência tarifária agita os mercados globais

A principal criptomoeda segue em um estado instável, sem conseguir estabelecer uma base sólida. O Bitcoin enfrenta alta volatilidade e registrou perdas nesta semana. Ainda assim, especialistas permanecem otimistas, prevendo

Larisa Kolesnikova 15:18 2025-04-10 UTC+2

Resumo de notícias do mercado dos EUA para 9 de abril

Os índices acionários dos EUA encerraram o pregão em queda após o anúncio da Casa Branca sobre uma nova rodada de tarifas sobre produtos chineses. As alíquotas podem chegar

Irina Maksimova 18:16 2025-04-09 UTC+2

Efeito dominó: tarifas dos EUA derrubam mercados; investidores fogem do dólar e dos títulos

Tarifas de Trump sobre a China geram temores de recessão Os títulos do Tesouro dos EUA e o dólar são atingidos pela liquidação, e os rendimentos sobem Ações europeias caem

Thomas Frank 18:14 2025-04-09 UTC+2

Previsões para o ouro: US$ 3.500, US$ 3.700 - até onde pode subir?

As previsões para o ouro estão se tornando cada vez mais impressionantes em todos os sentidos, com analistas praticamente competindo entre si para estimar até onde o metal precioso pode

Larisa Kolesnikova 15:24 2025-04-09 UTC+2

Resumo de notícias do mercado dos EUA para 8 de abril

A mais recente rodada de tarifas impostas pelo governo Trump está reformulando as expectativas econômicas. O Goldman Sachs agora projeta uma recessão nos próximos 12 meses, enquanto analistas do JPMorgan

Ekaterina Kiseleva 18:38 2025-04-08 UTC+2

Mercados em tumulto: Dow despenca, ouro sobe, Trump aumenta a tensão

Índices: S&P 500 caiu 0,23%, Nasdaq subiu 0,10%, Dow caiu 0,91% O S&P 500 continua oscilando à beira de um mercado em baixa Trump ameaça mais tarifas sobre a China

Thomas Frank 17:25 2025-04-08 UTC+2
Não pode falar agora?
Faça sua pergunta no chat.
Widget callback
 

Dear visitor,

Your IP address shows that you are currently located in the USA. If you are a resident of the United States, you are prohibited from using the services of InstaFintech Group including online trading, online transfers, deposit/withdrawal of funds, etc.

If you think you are seeing this message by mistake and your location is not the US, kindly proceed to the website. Otherwise, you must leave the website in order to comply with government restrictions.

Why does your IP address show your location as the USA?

  • - you are using a VPN provided by a hosting company based in the United States;
  • - your IP does not have proper WHOIS records;
  • - an error occurred in the WHOIS geolocation database.

Please confirm whether you are a US resident or not by clicking the relevant button below. If you choose the wrong option, being a US resident, you will not be able to open an account with InstaForex anyway.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this message.