Blue Oceans for Banks; Myths and Realities

The forthcoming era is certainly a testing period for banks. Stiff competition and high overheads make it challenging to maintain profitability. On the other hand global uncertainties, industry convergence and technology advancements offer enormous challenges for banks in achieving their revenue targets.

Will earth tremors engulf Asia’s miracle?

It was learnt from the local news media that there are frequent earth tremors experienced in various parts especially in the North and South East of the country.

Punctuality, good attendance will have positive impact on workplace

For years, Nihal, a Senior Executive, could be counted on to be late. Got a lunch meeting at 11:30 a.m.? Nihal will be there at 11:40. Got a presentation at 9:00 a.m.? Nihal will be there at 9:20. Is there a meeting at 6:00 p.m.? Nihal’s there by 6:30. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.?

Golden rules of investing in stock market

The stock market can be an excellent place to invest over the long term to create wealth. But in order to reap the benefits of investing in the stock market, investors should learn as much as possible about the market, before investing.

Microsoft finally goes Steve’s way – Imitating Apple’s success

There was and will always be one Steve Jobs, the man who introduced the world to his take on everything from phones to tablets and of course computers. His creativity made Apple the world’s most valuable company.

Women’s cricket on the B side

Women’s international cricket! Does anyone know it exists (smile)?  If one takes a look at the following it has received in this cricket crazy world, on a scale of 1 to 100, I would say it...

Investing in education powers competitiveness

 We know that investment in education contributes significantly to economic growth and is key to our current and future competitiveness. Indeed, if the private returns are so high on these investments, most households on their own accord are likely to make adequate investments in human capital development.

Iranian govt., likely to win battle of wills over currency

REUTERS - A battle of wills between Iran’s government and foreign exchange traders may end with authorities taking over all legal trade in the rial, leaving many Iranians to seek hard currency illegally in a poorly supplied black market.

Global economic slowdown worsening- IMF

The global economic recovery has suffered new setbacks and uncertainty weighs heavily on the outlook. A key reason is that policies in the major advanced economies have not rebuilt confidence in medium-term prospects.

Need for strong research, linkages to boost plantations’ productivity

The assumption in this article is that the flow of information from agricultural research to farming communities and vice versa requires that continuous contact be maintained by individuals able to make information comprehensible to farmers.

Effective criticism and discipline will keep your team on track

If you are a manager, supervisor and a team leader of a business organisation, I ask you the following question, what would be your answer?  ‘What is your most unnerving task as a leader--the task that you’d most like to avoid?’ 

Are you a smart investor?

You may be wondering what to do with the extra money that is not spent during the month. Some people make impulsive investment decisions without giving proper consideration to their long-term financial goals.

Power of matriarchs in the corporate world

In more instances than not, starting a successful business from nothing has been compared to the process of giving birth and nurturing children. If there is...

Developments in the bamboo industry

A UNIDO-GOSL-GEF initiative on ‘Bamboo Processing for Sri Lanka’, was initiated recently. This project aims at developing a bamboo supply chain and process industry in the country, initially covering an extent of 10,000 ha, by year 2018. It remains as the first project of this nature on this very useful and traditional but neglected crop in the country.

The Euro not in trouble, but people are

One of the phrases frequently written in economic circles in the United States (and to a lesser degree in Europe) is “the Euro is going to collapse.” Those who repeat that phrase over and over again do not seem to know how the Euro was established, by whom, and for whose benefit. If they knew the history of the Euro, they would have noticed that the major forces behind the Euro have done very well and continue to do so.

Surviving in times of crisis - Getting creative in a business crisis

All businesses face occasional crises, big and small. Most are of the smaller variety and are easily handled with existing systems. But occasionally, a crisis can be so large it spreads fear and threatens the business itself. The old saying that “when the going gets tough

Best time to invest in stock market

The Colombo stock market has gone up by over 1,000 points (more than 20%) during the last few weeks. With this growth, a large number of investors are either trying to enter the market or trying to maximize profits from their existing investments.

Unsung heroine of corporate world – the single mom

Recent media reports announced that divorces in Sri Lanka have risen to 300 a day, making it a high figure for a country with an ageing population. Somewhere in the midst of those break-ups are courageous single mothers, who suddenly find that they have to fend for themselves and their children.

9/11 vs 99:1and fading American Dream

The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success and...

Limits of statist development or state capitalism

One must emphasize that the state has a crucial role to play in a modern economy.  It should maintain macro-economic stability; address market failure; design a well-targeted safety net to protect the poor and vulnerable; and provide important public goods, such as prudent economic governance, law and order and a conducive investment climate, including robust and transparent regulation

NR cultivation in Europe and Asian dominance

The first tyre prototypes obtained from natural latex from Guayule and Russian Dandelion plants have been presented. The production of the first prototypes is a clear indication of the technical performance and economic potential of the rubber extracted.

New development goals for planet earth

Can extreme poverty be eliminated in the next 20 years? Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono may well be pondering this question as he and other heads of state gather in New York for the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Investing in stock market: How important is dividend yield?

Generally speaking, income from stock investments comes from two sources: Increase in the market price of the stock or capital gains and dividend payouts.

Surviving in times of crisis - Employee empowerment- secret to a successful business team

I have known Jagath as an enterprising young man for a number of years. He had a degree in management but his career choice was marketing. After qualifying himself in marketing, he joined a small local trading company as a sales manager. Recently I found him in a disturbed frame of mind.

Entrepreneur women who turned the cosmetic world around

I had heard about the miracle mineral make up but it was while on a holiday in Italy recently that I discovered the all-natural perfection of mineral...

Continued interests in green credentials of natural rubber

Rubber ( Hevea brasiliensis) has retained many features from it’s Amazonion origins as an environmentally-friendly forest tree, although it has been cultivated as a plantation crop for latex with wood as a side-product and now for carbon credits.

Global growth worries hit Asia biz sentiment in Q3-Survey

Business sentiment among Asia’s top companies fell for the second straight quarter, dragged down by export-orientated economies such as China and Japan, while domestic spending helped boost Southeast Asia’s outlook, a Thomson Reuters/INSEAD survey showed.

CB keeps policy rates unchanged

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank yesterday decided to keep the key policy rates unchanged amidst decelerating credit and import growth.

Emerging tourism trends

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) undertook an Airport survey of Departing Foreign Tourists from Sri Lanka from January to June 2011 and the results were published last week.

Workplace harmony: Key to enhanced performance

The employees of any workplace establish a kind of relationship among each other that keeps a diplomatic approach but usually does not go beyond personal level.  Since everyone has to work towards a common goal, the departments too are interrelated in their functions.