Anjali Kumari &Amp;Amp; Khushboo Tiwari

Stories by Anjali Kumari &Amp;Amp; Khushboo Tiwari

Floating-rate savings bonds on RBI portal may not be instant hit

Floating-rate savings bonds on RBI portal may not be instant hit

Rediff.com   1 Nov 2023

Retail investors could be hesitant to invest in floating rate savings bonds, as these specific bonds tend to be profitable only in a rising rate environment, according to market participants. The Reserve Bank of India has allowed subscriptions for floating-rate savings bonds, 2020, via retail direct - an online portal that enables individual investors to purchase government securities.

Reserve Bank of India may conduct OMO auction in first week of Nov

Reserve Bank of India may conduct OMO auction in first week of Nov

Rediff.com   31 Oct 2023

Bond market participants expect an open market operation (OMO) auction in the first week of November as the banking system liquidity is expected to ease on the back of government spending and maturity of bonds. According to market participants, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will issue a notification on OMO sales by October 31. They speculate that the central bank might conduct the auctions in multiple tranches of Rs 10,000 crore.

Sebi bars finfluencer from securities market, asks to disgorge Rs 17 cr

Sebi bars finfluencer from securities market, asks to disgorge Rs 17 cr

Rediff.com   26 Oct 2023

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Wednesday barred financial influencer Mohammad Nasiruddin Ansari, operating with the handle 'Baap of Chart' and known as Md Nasir on social media, from accessing the securities market. Further, the market regulator has asked him to disgorge Rs 17.2 crore for indulging in unregistered investment advisory. 'Baap of Chart' has over 443,000 subscribers on YouTube and 83,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter) and has provided trading recommendations and courses.

Banking system liquidity bounces back to surplus after three weeks

Banking system liquidity bounces back to surplus after three weeks

Rediff.com   10 Oct 2023

The banking system liquidity bounced back to surplus mode after three weeks, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data showed. This was due to government spending, according to dealers. The liquidity situation could further ease with the disbursement of the last tranche of incremental cash reserve ratio (I-CRR) worth Rs 50,000 crore on Saturday.

'Bond inclusion will lower cost of capital'

'Bond inclusion will lower cost of capital'

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2023

'The cost of financing the fiscal deficit will decrease, as new passive investors join in.'

Regulatory relook: Move to push firms away from in-house RTAs on the cards

Regulatory relook: Move to push firms away from in-house RTAs on the cards

Rediff.com   3 Oct 2023

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) plans to roll out a new regulatory framework for registrar and transfer agents (RTAs) - the market intermediaries responsible for the record-keeping of bondholders and shareholders after a company offers securities to the public. The markets regulator, sources said, is considering a multifold increase in net-worth requirement, a move that may dissuade companies from having in-house RTAs for record-keeping. At present, the minimum net worth required for RTAs is Rs 50 lakh and Rs 25 lakh in categories I and II, respectively.

JP Morgan EM index addition: Banks, FIs look to raise Rs 18,000 crore

JP Morgan EM index addition: Banks, FIs look to raise Rs 18,000 crore

Rediff.com   2 Oct 2023

Days after JP Morgan announced the inclusion of government bonds in its emerging market (EM) bond index, a host of banks and other financial institutions (FIs) are set to tap the debt market. They plan to raise Rs 18,000 crore by issuing non-convertible debentures (NCDs) and bonds. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) plans to raise up to Rs 3,000 crore via five-year social impact bonds on Tuesday, the first of its kind in India.

In a first, India's unique investor count tops 80 million: NSE data

In a first, India's unique investor count tops 80 million: NSE data

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2023

The total number of unique investors directly investing in the stock market has surged to 80 million for the first time, with the latest 10 million additions taking place in just eight months, according to data shared by the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the country's largest bourse. "The 80 million unique PAN (permanent account number) investors correspond approximately to around 50 million unique households in India amounting to around 17 per cent households directly investing in the Indian stock market via NSE's extensive nationwide network of trading members," said the exchange. In 2021, the number of domestic households were pegged at 300 million.

No signs of systemic risk build-up in bank credit: RBI's Michael Patra

No signs of systemic risk build-up in bank credit: RBI's Michael Patra

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2023

India's bank credit remains resilient and is showing no signs of systematic risk, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Michael Patra said on Monday. A copy of the speech was uploaded on the RBI website on Thursday. "Bank credit is monitored as a lead indicator of overheating. Our assessment, based on a menu of approaches, indicates that current rates of credit expansion are not pointing to systemic stress building up. Illustratively, the credit gap - the difference between the credit to GDP ratio and its trend - is currently negative," said Patra, while delivering a speech in Cambodia.

Banking liquidity deficit highest in over 3 years

Banking liquidity deficit highest in over 3 years

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2023

The banking system neared Rs 1.47 trillion of liquidity deficit on Monday, the highest since January 29, 2020, when the banking system liquidity deficit went up to Rs 3 trillion. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) injected Rs 1.47 trillion on Monday and Rs 1.46 trillion on Tuesday. Market participants say that the disbursement of Rs 25,000 crore as the second tranche of incremental cash reserve ratio (I-CRR) will not be enough, and the liquidity might tighten further to Rs 2 trillion in short term due to tax outflows and arrival of the festival season.

Nearly 34% loans charged 10% or more interest

Nearly 34% loans charged 10% or more interest

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2023

As the policy rate has seen a steady increase since May 2022, the percentage of loans offered at interest rates below 8 per cent have declined sharply, dropping from 53 per cent in March 2022 to 18 per cent by June 2023, according to a report by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The share of bank loans with interest rates of 10 per cent or higher rose from 22 per cent to 34 per cent during this period, reflecting the impact of a 250 basis point (bps) hike in the policy repo rate by the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee. In response to the rise in repo rate, 32 domestic banks have made corresponding upward revisions to their repo-linked external benchmark-based lending rates (EBLRs), aligning them with the magnitude of the rate hike.

25-bp deposit rate hike likely this festival season

25-bp deposit rate hike likely this festival season

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2023

The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) decision to withdraw the incremental cash reserve ratio (I-CRR) is expected to benefit banks during the festival season. They are likely to increase deposit rates by up to 25 basis points (bps) in select maturity buckets. The rise in demand for funds to cover tax payments and meet quarter-end business targets could influence rate decisions by banks, according to bankers and money market executives.

NSE and BSE IFSC units may file for merger by September end

NSE and BSE IFSC units may file for merger by September end

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2023

The proposal to merge the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) units of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and BSE has reached an advanced stage, and both bourses could file an application before the National Company Law Tribunal as early as this month, according to a top regulatory official. Sources indicate that the merger proposal has received approval from their respective boards. Both the NSE and BSE are arch rivals when it comes to onshore trading.

Direct listing of firms at GIFT City likely by year-end

Direct listing of firms at GIFT City likely by year-end

Rediff.com   7 Sep 2023

The International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) plans to operationalise the framework for direct listing of companies at International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) exchanges by the end of the year, said Chairperson K Rajaraman. He added that the amendments would be notified within three months. Further, the GIFT City regulator is also considering the launch of separate payments system regulations - similar to that of the real time gross settlement (RTGS) for banking within a few months.

Higher govt spending likely to help ease liquidity in banking system

Higher govt spending likely to help ease liquidity in banking system

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2023

The liquidity in the banking system could ease in the coming week due to an increase in government spending - a development that would be the key for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to decide whether to extend the incremental cash reserve ratio (I-CRR) mandate for banks. There are signs of improvement in the liquidity scenario as banks parked Rs 25, 833 crore with the RBI on Thursday. Market participants expect liquidity to gradually improve by the end of the month or during the first week of September, aided by government spending.

BSE moves Bankex expiry to Monday; to be effective from Oct 16

BSE moves Bankex expiry to Monday; to be effective from Oct 16

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2023

The BSE has decided to move the expiry day of Bankex derivatives contracts from Friday to Monday, effective October 16, the bourse said on Wednesday. "New contracts of S&P BSE Bankex with Monday expiry will be generated on October 13, 2023, and will be available for trading with effect from October 16, 2023," the BSE said, citing the decision was based on the market feedback. The expiry of Sensex derivatives contracts will continue to be on Friday.

Banking system's liquidity slips into deficit for the first time in FY24

Banking system's liquidity slips into deficit for the first time in FY24

Rediff.com   30 Aug 2023

The banking system's liquidity slipped into deficit for the first time in the current financial year (2023-24) due to the imposition of the Incremental Cash Reserve Ratio (I-CRR) for banks and outflows from goods and services tax (GST) payments, according to dealers. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data shows it injected Rs 23,644 crore on August 21. The last time liquidity was in deficit was on March 27, when the RBI injected Rs 45,575 crore.

IFSCA looks to clear decks for startups' direct listing at GIFT City

IFSCA looks to clear decks for startups' direct listing at GIFT City

Rediff.com   29 Aug 2023

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has proposed key exemptions to the current listing framework and measures for setting up holding companies (holdcos) and special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) to encourage domestic startups list at GIFT City, the country's only international financial services centre (IFSC). Under the current framework, to be eligible to list on IFSC exchanges, an issuing company should have operating revenue of at least $20 million in the preceding financial year and average pre-tax profits of at least $1 million during the preceding three financial years. An expert committee has noted these conditions have acted as hurdles to listing new-age companies, and they need a relook.

Rupee expected to weaken more to touch $83.5, may improve in Sep

Rupee expected to weaken more to touch $83.5, may improve in Sep

Rediff.com   28 Aug 2023

The Indian rupee, which has depreciated 1.1 per cent so far in August, is expected to decline further on the back of a strengthening US dollar and a weakening Chinese yuan, according to a Business Standard poll of analysts. The Indian rupee hit an all-time low recently, closing at 83.15 per dollar. Five of the 10 respondents said the Indian currency might touch 83.5 per dollar in August itself, while others said the worst could be over.

Vegetable prices might ease from September led by tomato: RBI Governor Das

Vegetable prices might ease from September led by tomato: RBI Governor Das

Rediff.com   24 Aug 2023

Vegetable rates may ease from September, led by tomato prices, which have started showing signs of correction on the back of increased supply, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Wednesday. "Looking ahead, the spike in vegetable prices in July is starting to see a correction, led by tomato prices. "New arrivals of tomatoes in mandis are already softening the prices, coupled with proactive supply management in the case of onions.