The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) suffered a net foreign outflow of Rs. 6.15 billion during this period. The stock market saw foreign purchases of Rs. 57.9 billion while stocks worth Rs. 64 billion were sold by foreigners. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) data showed that the bond market saw an outflow of around Rs. 43.2 billion during this period, with the treasury bills and bonds held by foreigners coming down from Rs. 157.5 billion on 26 April (Friday) to Rs. 114.3 billion on 8 November. Three weeks into the Easter Sunday attacks that happened on 21 April this year, CSE witnessed a net foreign inflow of Rs. 1.5 billion while government securities held by foreigners went down by Rs. 13.8 billion. By the end of the first week following the attacks, foreign purchases were recorded at Rs. 2.4 billion while foreign sales were Rs. 907.8 million. By the second week, foreign purchases decreased to Rs. 175.4 million while foreign sales also dropped to Rs. 119.4 million. In the third week, foreign purchases were recorded at Rs. 296.6 million and foreign sales were at Rs. 318 million. According to the CBSL, treasury bills and bonds held by foreigners saw a net foreign inflow of Rs. 268 million during the first week following the attacks. Reversing the trend, at the end of the second week, government securities witnessed a net foreign outflow of Rs. 3.2 billion. However, by the end of the third week, foreign outflows further aggravated as a net foreign outflow of Rs. 10.7 billion was recorded. Meanwhile, the rupee depreciated by 3.5% against the US dollar during this period as it went to Rs. 180.9 on 8 November from Rs. 174.6 on 18 April while the Dollar Index has strengthened by 1.1%. The global economy witnessed a slowdown during this period driven by a number of factors such as increased trade tensions, weakened business confidence, and softened external demand. Amidst expectations of softening global growth due to increased trade and geopolitical tensions, monetary policies in advanced economies have turned increasingly dovish since the beginning of this year. For the first time in 11 years, the US Federal Reserve cut policy rates by 25 basis points to the 2-2.25% range on 31 July this year. It has followed this up with two more rate cuts to its current target range of 1.5% to 1.75%. A number of central banks in emerging market economies have also reacted by relaxing their monetary policies, with a view to supporting domestic economic growth amidst subdued inflationary pressures and volatile global market conditions.