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Oil plunges to lowest level since Jan.

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The price of U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate slid roughly 5% to trade at $79 per barrel, reaching its lowest point since January amid mounting recession fears.

Meanwhile, the price of international benchmark Brent crude fell below $87 per barrel, also on track for its lowest close since January.

Both WTI and Brent crude were in technically oversold territory, posting a fourth straight week of declines on Friday and marking the worst losing streak since last December.

Widespread recession fears have been weighing on energy prices but also slammed the stock market recently, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average falling back into bear market territory on Friday. Both major indexes also set a new low point for the year amid the broad selloff.

Contributing to oil’s decline was also continued strength in the U.S. Dollar, which is considered a safe-haven asset. The ICE U.S. Dollar Index, which tracks the Dollar against a basket of other currencies, rose nearly 1% and reached its highest level since 2002.

With the Federal Reserve raising interest rates by 75 basis points for a third consecutive policy meeting in a row on Wednesday, central banks around the world have been doing the same by announcing rate hikes. Global economic growth concerns have “hit panic mode given a chorus of central bank commitments to fight inflation,” says Edward Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda.

“Central banks are poised to remain aggressive with rate hikes and that will weaken both economic activity and the short-term crude demand outlook,” he describes, adding, “the dollar rally is about to enter another level that could keep the pressure on commodities.”

The S&P 500 energy sector fell more than 6% on Friday for its worst day since May, adding to losses in recent weeks. Still, the sector has far outperformed the benchmark S&P 500 index this year (down 23%), rising over 20% thanks to a surge in oil prices earlier this year.

But some investors may now be looking to cash out as oil prices have fallen back down to earth. “Not only are there worries about consumption given rising recession risks, but this is a pretty crowded space with a lot of nervous longs sitting on healthy year-to-date gains that they’re eager to lock in,” says Vital Knowledge founder Adam Crisafulli.

(Excerpts : Forbes)

BIZ

Only 50 Dollars to go to India by passenger ferry!

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Sri Lanka will commence the operations of the passenger ferry service between Kankesanthurai and Pondicherry on April 29, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said.

It said a passenger terminal is currently being constructed at the Kankesanthurai Port to facilitate the ferry service by the Sri Lanka Navy.

Ferry owners have mentioned during a recent discussion that they will be charging 50 US Dollars per passenger for a one-way trip, while allowing a passenger to carry baggage weighing 100kg. 

A ferry is expected to carry 150 passengers at a time and will take around 4 hours to travel from Karaikal Port in Pondicherry to Kankesanthurai.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that any businessman in India and Sri Lanka can join this passenger ferry service.

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Sathosa reduces prices of 10 items!

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In order to provide relief to the people, Lanka Sathosa has reduced the prices of 10 essential items with effect from today (24).

The revised prices;

Dry Chillies 1kg – Rs: 1,380
Garlic 1kg – Rs: 450
Sprats 1kg – Rs: 1,100
Chickpea 1kg – Rs: 555
Samba Rice (Local) 1kg – Rs: 199
Canned Fish 425g – Rs: 520
Big Onion 1kg – Rs: 119
Potatoes (local) 1kg – Rs: 270
White sugar 1kg – Rs: 210
Watana 1kg – Rs: 298

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Sri Lankan rupee appreciates further

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The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) further appreciated against the US Dollar (USD) today.

Announcing the official exchange rates, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) declared the buying rate as Rs. 311.26 per USD and the selling rate as 328.60 per USD.

Meanwhile, the Middle Rate of the USD/LKR SPOT exchange rate stood at Rs. 317.31 today.

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