B G Shirsat &Amp; Abhijit Lele

Stories by B G Shirsat &Amp; Abhijit Lele

Bank staff may have to bear 25% pension cost

Bank staff may have to bear 25% pension cost

Rediff.com   13 May 2009

As part of wage settlement, new recruits will be asked to shift to the New Pension Scheme.

Firms expect to maintain dividend payout

Firms expect to maintain dividend payout

Rediff.com   12 May 2009

The 193 companies have proposed a dividend payout of Rs 16,764 crore (Rs 167.64 billion) for 2008-09 on a net profit of Rs 92,412 crore (Rs 924.12 billion) compared to Rs 15,328 crore (Rs 153.28 billion) paid on a net profit of Rs 84,790 crore (Rs 847.9 billion) earned in 2007-08.

ICICI Bank scales down operations in US, Sri Lanka

ICICI Bank scales down operations in US, Sri Lanka

Rediff.com   7 May 2009

ICICI Bank, the country's largest private sector bank, has scaled down its overseas operations, especially in the United States and Sri Lanka. It has also recalled some employees from its international offices now that the businesses of fund-raising and merger and acquisitions have shrunk.

RBI checks for surrogate holding in banks

RBI checks for surrogate holding in banks

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2009

Failed attempt to acquire stake in Kolhapur-based bank seen as trigger.

More companies opt for CDR

More companies opt for CDR

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2009

While the level of non-performing assets for banks is on the rise, despite the Reserve Bank of India's push for debt restructuring, cases referred to the corporate debt restructuring cell increased to 34 at the end of March 2009, as against 10 at the end of 2007-08. CDR, which was set up in 2002-03, is a mechanism for faster disposal of restructuring cases involving multiple lenders, though foreign banks are yet to join the platform.

Tata Motors nets Rs 15 cr on 5,00,000 Nano forms

Tata Motors nets Rs 15 cr on 5,00,000 Nano forms

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2009

Within 15 days of opening the registration process for Nano, its Rs 1 lakh car, Tata Motors has sold nearly 5,00,000 application forms, raking in Rs 15 crore (at Rs 300 each). Distributors associated with the Nano bookings said most of the forms were likely to translate into bookings.

Sub-BPLR loans make a comeback

Sub-BPLR loans make a comeback

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2009

Loans at a discount to the benchmark prime lending rates of banks are back with a majority of the fresh loans being disbursed at sub-PLR rates.

Short-term rates headed below 10%

Short-term rates headed below 10%

Rediff.com   18 Mar 2009

With interest rates softening, banks are slowly re-pricing the cost of short-term credit extended to the corporate sector.

Want a Nano? First, pay for applying

Want a Nano? First, pay for applying

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2009

"This is for the first time that a manufacturer will charge for an application form. However, it will be refunded if an application is rejected," said a senior bank executive. Bookings are expected to start by the last week of March. The forms will be collected through various channels. "All the forms and the collected money will be transferred to SBI, where they will be processed, and loans will be given through various banks within 90 days," said a source.

138 firms come out with flying colours

138 firms come out with flying colours

Rediff.com   24 Feb 2009

The net sales of these outperformers grew by 57.7 per cent, while their net profit rose by 69 per cent in the nine months of the current financial year over the same period of the previous year.

Global commodity-linked firms hit hard

Global commodity-linked firms hit hard

Rediff.com   24 Feb 2009

The poor performance of the corporate sector in the current financial year is reflected in the fact that the number of sectors posting net losses has more than doubled quarter-on-quarter -- from seven in the first quarter to 15 in second to 37 in the third quarter.

FCCB: A boon that proves to be a bane

FCCB: A boon that proves to be a bane

Rediff.com   24 Feb 2009

Foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) are proving to be a double-edged sword with large premiums simply vanishing on account of bear markets and the ghost of redemption at yield-to-maturity (YTM) hanging on.

One in every three companies reports net loss

One in every three companies reports net loss

Rediff.com   24 Feb 2009

As many as 2,431 firms in manufacturing and services sectors post their biggest-ever net profit decline of 42.45 per cent.

Lenders seek Subhiksha books review

Lenders seek Subhiksha books review

Rediff.com   9 Feb 2009

To take up debt restructuring of cash-strapped retailer.

Govt banks to see higher pressure on margins

Govt banks to see higher pressure on margins

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2009

Public sector banks could see higher pressure on their net interest margins in the coming months as they have mopped up large amounts of deposits at higher rates and have also effected steep cuts in lending rates between November 2008 and January 2009.

Govt banks up promoter funding

Govt banks up promoter funding

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2009

Public sector banks are increasingly looking at promoter funding as a business opportunity when others are shying away from it.

Lack of literacy hinders no-frill a/cs' use

Lack of literacy hinders no-frill a/cs' use

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2009

The study conducted at select bank branches in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu has found that the lack of financial literacy was the main reason behind the non-operative accounts. Other aspects like distance from branches also had their share in influencing the degree of usage.

Few takers: Raju's claim of quarter margin

Few takers: Raju's claim of quarter margin

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2009

There are very few takers for B Ramalinga Raju's astounding claim that the margin earned by Satyam in the quarter ended September 2008 was just 3 per cent, and not 24 per cent as reported in the results.

Low interest regime to kick off with SBI cut

Low interest regime to kick off with SBI cut

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2009

Banks led by State Bank of India are set to lower deposit rates by over 50 basis points by the middle of the month, followed by a reduction in lending rates.

Banks for loan recast flexibility

Banks for loan recast flexibility

Rediff.com   2 Jan 2009

Banks and financial institutions are seeking more flexibility in dealing with commercial and industrial loan accounts, which are seeing pressure due to cash flows and repayment.