Abhijit Lele, Sundar Sethuraman

Stories by Abhijit Lele, Sundar Sethuraman

Banks get time till Dec end to renew safe deposit locker agreements

Banks get time till Dec end to renew safe deposit locker agreements

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2023

The Reserve Bank of India on Monday gave banks time till end of December 2023 to complete renewal of agreements for the existing safe deposit lockers of customers. Banks were earlier required to complete the process by January 01, 2023. The central bank has asked them to complete work in phases with intermediate milestones of 50 per cent by June 30, and 75 per cent by September 30.

Investors budget for growth on Feb 1; tax sops for salaried expected

Investors budget for growth on Feb 1; tax sops for salaried expected

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2023

Reminiscent of the past two years, the market has made positive strides ahead of the Union Budget 2023-24 (FY24). The benchmark National Stock Exchange Nifty has gained 1.8 per cent in the last month. Typically, markets tend to gain ahead of the Budget as investors build in optimism.

Public sector firms' share in total market cap at a three-year high

Public sector firms' share in total market cap at a three-year high

Rediff.com   20 Jan 2023

The share of listed public sector undertakings (PSUs) in the overall market capitalisation has hit a three-year high of 11.4 per cent. This comes on the back of the sharp outperformance of the PSU pack over the past two years. In 2021 and 2022, the BSE PSU index gained 41 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively. Market participants said a combination of factors like value buying and bullishness, particularly in public sector banks (PSBs), were the reason for the improved prospects.

'Expect moderate returns from markets in near term'

'Expect moderate returns from markets in near term'

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2023

'Given the worries about sluggish growth, rising interest rates and likely volatility, it's quite logical to infer that the SIP route could be the preferred way of investing.'

SBI To Raise Another 10,000 cr Through Infrastructure Bonds

SBI To Raise Another 10,000 cr Through Infrastructure Bonds

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2023

UCO Bank mulls AT1 offering to raise Rs 1,000 cr.

Cash trading volume declines in 2022 amid muted returns

Cash trading volume declines in 2022 amid muted returns

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2023

Cash trading volume declined in 2022, even as benchmark indices outperformed their peers. The average daily trading volume (ADTV) for the cash segment fell 18 per cent year-on-year to Rs 61,392 crore (NSE and BSE combined). The ADTV for the futures and options (F&O) segment (NSE and BSE combined) stood at Rs 125 trillion (notional turnover), up 117 per cent from the previous year.

IPO Fundraising Dipped To Half in 2022

IPO Fundraising Dipped To Half in 2022

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2023

The turmoil in the markets has been cited as the reason for the dip in the IPO market.

Change Of Guard At Banks, LIC In 2023

Change Of Guard At Banks, LIC In 2023

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2022

The first quarter of calendar 2023 will see new faces heading four large public-sector banks -- Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, Indian Overseas Bank, and Bank of India.

20 years at Reliance helm: Mukesh Ambani redefines scale, business growth

20 years at Reliance helm: Mukesh Ambani redefines scale, business growth

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2022

At the 45th Annual General Meeting of Reliance Industries (RIL) in August, chairman and managing director (CMD) Mukesh Ambani described the company as an "unputdownable book" with never-ending chapters of success. "Reliance grew from strength to strength because we internalised the founder's mindset of purpose, philosophy and passion," he said. Wednesday marked the 90th birth anniversary of RIL founder Dhirubhai Ambani.

IPOs Make Way Out Of Deep Freezer

IPOs Make Way Out Of Deep Freezer

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2022

The success of recent IPOs and the stability in the secondary market are propelling many firms and investment bankers to remove their IPO plans.

Privatisation of PSBs gets bankers' thumbs up

Privatisation of PSBs gets bankers' thumbs up

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2022

Exuding confidence in sustaining the tempo of credit growth, public sector bankers said on Wednesday that consolidation in the public sector bank (PSB) space has given them a robust base to scale. The privatisation of PSBs can be done through divestment of government stake to a wider base of investors without haste. There is nothing to worry about at this point (high credit offtake) as underwriting standards and risk management are much better.

FPIs Pull Out A Record Rs 1.22 Trillion!

FPIs Pull Out A Record Rs 1.22 Trillion!

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2022

FPIs have turned net sellers in 2022 after being net buyers in the last three years.

In a U-turn, outstanding NRI deposits rise in October

In a U-turn, outstanding NRI deposits rise in October

Rediff.com   21 Dec 2022

Breaking the streak of continuous fall in outstanding amounts, non-resident Indian (NRI) deposits rose for the first time in the financial year to $134.54 billion in October 2022. The figure was $133.67 billion in September. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data showed that NRI deposits were in shrinking mode for the first six months of FY23. They fell to $133.67 billion in September from $139 billion in March.

2023 likely to be another volatile year for Indian equity markets

2023 likely to be another volatile year for Indian equity markets

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2022

2023 could be another volatile year for Indian equity markets, according to BofA. In a report, the brokerage pointed out that the Nifty50, at present, is trading at 20.7x against its long-term average of 18.8x one-year forward earnings of current Nifty constituents. Plus, India is trading at a 98 per cent premium to its emerging market (EM) peers against its long-term average of 45 per cent.

Morgan Stanley upgrades Chinese equities as country eases Covid curbs

Morgan Stanley upgrades Chinese equities as country eases Covid curbs

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2022

Morgan Stanley has upgraded China's equities amidst optimism about the country relaxing restrictions to slow down the spread of Covid-19. "Multiple positive developments alongside a clear path set towards reopening warrant an upgrade and index target increases for China," the brokerage said in a note. MSCI China's return on equity (ROE) is likely to rise from 9.4 per cent to 11.1 per cent by the end-2023.

RBI issues framework for Indian banks' foreign biz

RBI issues framework for Indian banks' foreign biz

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2022

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has put in place a framework to allow overseas subsidiaries and branches of Indian banks and financial institutions to undertake activities not specifically permitted in the Indian domestic market. The framework also specifies the applicability of these instructions to International Financial Services Centres in India, including Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). While these activities may not need prior approval, they are subject to compliance with all applicable laws/regulations and conditions stipulated by the RBI and those prescribed by the host regulator.

Excess credit growth to affect banks: Fitch

Excess credit growth to affect banks: Fitch

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2022

Global rating agency Fitch said on Monday that bank credit growth in excess of 13 per cent year on year in FY23 could put pressure on core equity tier ratios (CET1) of banks, especially public sector lenders. It may limit the buffers of Indian banks to absorb potential future losses. Bank credit expanded by 11.5 per cent in FY22. Full-year loan growth for FY23 will represent a modest slowdown from the 17 per cent YoY pace in H1FY23.

SBI in talks with EIB for euro 200 mn green funding

SBI in talks with EIB for euro 200 mn green funding

Rediff.com   14 Nov 2022

After securing a euro 150 million Credit line for solar energy finance from a German financial institution, State Bank of India is in talks with european Investment Bank for about euro 200 million to fund climate finance. Recently the country's largest lender obtained euro 150 million in green funding from German government-owned KFW on soft terms and a long repayment period. SBI will use funds to finance solar energy projects.

FPIs regain risk appetite, pump in nearly Rs 8,430 crore in October

FPIs regain risk appetite, pump in nearly Rs 8,430 crore in October

Rediff.com   9 Nov 2022

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) turned net buyers in October after being net sellers in the previous month. In October, FPIs bought shares worth nearly Rs 8,430 crore ($1 billion) against net selling of Rs 13,405 crore ($1.6 billion) in September. Positive flows during three of the previous four months have pushed the domestic markets towards fresh all-time highs. At present, the Sensex and Nifty are less than 2 per cent shy of breaching record highs logged in October 2021. A rally in equity markets in the US and Europe is in hopes that the Federal Reserve may go soft on rate hikes after its November meeting.

Rights Issue See Sharp Decline

Rights Issue See Sharp Decline

Rediff.com   4 Nov 2022

The fundraising through rights issues in the first 10 months of 2022 is the lowest since 2016 during a similar period.