The income tax authorities have put banks and companies disclosing losses in their foreign exchange derivative structures under the scanner. Banks and companies have been called to explain the extent of losses and structures initiated in both Indian and overseas markets through their branches and subsidiaries. The income tax department will then ascertain whether banks and companies entered into transactions to hedge their portfolio or for purely speculative purposes.
Citing the need for a more liberal regime for the banking and financial sector, RBI has opposed bilateral trade agreements. With no multilateral pacts with the WTO, the government had entered into free trade agreements, whose scope was later expanded to services, investment and even bilateral tax treaties. RBI has urged other countries such as UK, US and Europe to show reciprocity in granting branch licenses to Indian banks as they expect a similar treatment from India.
Rise in euro against the dollar is benefitting exporters trading the currency. Traders book forward deals to benefit from bullish European currency.
Wants CBDT to plug loophole in the system.
The Income Tax department has suggested an amendment for taxation of bad debt to the Central Board of Direct Taxes
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has clarified that only the premium collected for providing health cover in the case of unit-linked health insurance policies will be eligible for tax benefits.
Move targeted at companies with high promoter holdings.
On Tuesday, the 32-member Parliamentary Committee is understood to have met officials of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, Reserve Bank of India, stock exchanges, various brokers, Unit Trust of India, Life Insurance Corporation and State Bank of India. The committee is expected to meet officials of the finance ministry next week.
According to sources close to development, the paper proposes four new concepts for making the taxation of foreign companies in India and foreign transaction of Indian companies, especially overseas mergers and acquisitions, more transparent.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes has proposed that the sale of capital assets of a company operating in India, but registered overseas
Banks raising one-year deposits at 9.75% to meet MF, pension fund redemptions.
The Reserve Bank of India is not in favour of the government subscribing to State Bank of India's rights issue through bonds on grounds that it does not conform to good corporate governance.
Sebi has proposed to examine the margining system of stock market, in an effort to make the system easier for retail investor.
Banking industry sources said data has been sought both on the source and deployment of funds by NBFCs, both those that accept deposits and those that don't.
According to sources, this is quite rare since most of the requirements of the banks are first met through call market borrowings and then through the repo window of RBI . Under the repo, banks borrow funds from RBI by pledging government securities.
At a recent meeting of the high level coordination committee of regulators on capital markets, the RBI clarified that no approvals for VCFs will be issued since the Finance Ministry is reviewing the policy for investment in the realty sector for both foreign direct investment (FDI) and portfolio investments by foreign institutional investors.
According to a source close to the development, the investment advisory committee of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has suggested far-reaching changes to make the investment norms more flexible, while adhering to the existing prudential investment guidelines.
In a move to check wild swings in the share prices of newly listed small-cap companies, the Securities and Exchange Board of India is considering a price band (circuit filter) for the first couple of days after listing.
Some sections within the government feel that it is possible to treat them as separate entities as is done in case of World Bank and its private investment arm -- the International Finance Corporation. However, RBI is of the view that there cannot be a one-off approval and Temasek and GIC cannot be considered as separate entities as they belong to the same government -- the government of Singapore.
Irda is planning credit rating for insurance companies. Such a move will enable the regulator to grade insurance companies.