M Saraswathy And Abhijit Lele

Stories by M Saraswathy And Abhijit Lele

Why liquidity will remain constrained till March-end

Why liquidity will remain constrained till March-end

Rediff.com   18 Feb 2019

Although the RBI's open market operations have ensured sufficient system-level liquidity, some sectors are finding liquidity to be a challenge owing to their credit profile.

The blind spot on India's biggest banking whodunit

The blind spot on India's biggest banking whodunit

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2019

The PNB fiasco falls into a family line that involves non-fund limits - read contingent liabilities which are off-books. Harshad Mehta did it with bankers' receipts in 1992. Ketan Parekh exploited the ignorance of bankers who did not know the difference between a cheque and a pay-order. And the RBI blinked when it failed to insist the SWIFT platform be linked to the core banking solution. Raghu Mohan & Abhijit Lele trace the banking mess that was just waiting to happen.

Why PSBs put Rs 1-trn bad loans on sale

Why PSBs put Rs 1-trn bad loans on sale

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2019

Bankruptcy proceedings are going at a slower pace than what the bankers had envisaged and many cases have gone beyond the 270-day timeline set under the IBC mainly because of litigation.

Deposit rates not to rise soon

Deposit rates not to rise soon

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2019

During the fourth quarter (January-March), banks step up the activity to meet annual targets. This leads to a race to raise funds from markets often by jacking up deposit rates. This time around, the market has not seen such trend yet.

Post restructuring, SBI-led consortium may hold around 40% stake in Jet

Post restructuring, SBI-led consortium may hold around 40% stake in Jet

Rediff.com   17 Jan 2019

The airline has struggled to pay salaries and vendors on time and its Rs 10,963 crore fund and non fund based facilities have now been assigned 'D' rating by ICRA - the seventh rating downgrade since March 2017.

Registration of 1,490 NBFCs cancelled

Registration of 1,490 NBFCs cancelled

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2019

Kolkata tops the list with 617 cancellations, New Delhi stands second with 203, followed by Mumbai at 190.

As Jet hits air pocket, fate of Naresh Goyal is almost sealed

As Jet hits air pocket, fate of Naresh Goyal is almost sealed

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2019

Options include fresh capital infusion by the management and/or some new investors.

Curious case of the firm that handles 'Get PSB loans in 59 mins'

Curious case of the firm that handles 'Get PSB loans in 59 mins'

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2018

Sidbi acquires Ahmedabad-based start-up at hefty premium; founders deny link to govt.

RBI will keep PSBs under strict watch

RBI will keep PSBs under strict watch

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2018

RBI says haste in easing norms for banks harmful to economy.

How loan waivers will hurt the states

How loan waivers will hurt the states

Rediff.com   27 Dec 2018

Among the states due for election next year are AP, Haryana and Odisha, which have a fair share of agri credit. If these states individually announced debt relief, the combined waiver would be at least around Rs 600 bn to Rs 700 bn. Clearly, this will be a frightening challenge for Indian banks.

Can Shaktikanta Das be a peacemaker between RBI, govt?

Can Shaktikanta Das be a peacemaker between RBI, govt?

Rediff.com   27 Dec 2018

If the new governor can think out of the box even as he signals that he can bat for the RBI cadre and respect its institutional memory, that will go a long way in getting out of the current impasse.

BoB-Dena-Vijaya Bank merger: What it means for their customers

BoB-Dena-Vijaya Bank merger: What it means for their customers

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2018

The combined entity is set to be the third largest bank in India, behind State Bank of India and ICICI Bank.

Arvind Subramanian: 'Brace for slower growth'

Arvind Subramanian: 'Brace for slower growth'

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2018

'The macro-economic stresses -- high interest rates, rupee depreciation and capital flows -- have receded now.' 'Interest rates have come down, inflation is down and the rupee has bounced back.' 'If oil prices continue at this level, there will be no vulnerability.' 'Growth is a different story.'

What RBI's capital adequacy move means for banks

What RBI's capital adequacy move means for banks

Rediff.com   21 Nov 2018

For banks, the package will limit the burden of provisioning for stressed loans. Besides, the proposed restructuring package for MSMEs with a credit of up to Rs 25 crore is expected to provide a breather to units from this sector.

For BoB, Vijaya, Dena Bank, single brand is the first challenge

For BoB, Vijaya, Dena Bank, single brand is the first challenge

Rediff.com   6 Nov 2018

If a name does not unify the three, there could be continued clash of identities, which could splinter the brand even before it takes shape, say Abhijit Lele and Nikhat Hetavkar.

RBI deputy governor fires salvo at government

RBI deputy governor fires salvo at government

Rediff.com   27 Oct 2018

Governments that did not respect the central bank's independence would sooner or later incur the wrath of financial markets, ignite economic fire, and come to rue the day they undermined the regulatory institution, Deputy Governor Viral Acharya warned.

Will banks lend cash to strapped NBFCs?

Will banks lend cash to strapped NBFCs?

Rediff.com   26 Oct 2018

The problem for the NBFC sector is the funding inertia by banks and not lack of funds.

IL&FS impact: Prolonged liquidity crisis will hit economy, says Moody's

IL&FS impact: Prolonged liquidity crisis will hit economy, says Moody's

Rediff.com   16 Oct 2018

The current episode highlights the structural vulnerabilities in the liquidity management practices of Indian NBFIs

IL&FS' lenders to feel heat of defaults in Q2

IL&FS' lenders to feel heat of defaults in Q2

Rediff.com   3 Oct 2018

PSB executives said loans to group holding company IL&FS and entities might still be treated as "standard".

IL&FS to raise Rs 15,000 crore, hike borrowing limit

IL&FS to raise Rs 15,000 crore, hike borrowing limit

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2018

The IL&FS group has a complicated structure, with the holding company owning stakes in its financial services arm as well as the subsidiaries that operate its infrastructure assets.