Manojit Saha &Amp;Amp; Anjali Kumari

Stories by Manojit Saha &Amp;Amp; Anjali Kumari

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.'

HDFC Bank goes for first major rejig after merger

HDFC Bank goes for first major rejig after merger

Rediff.com   4 Oct 2023

HDFC Bank has reshuffled the portfolios of its senior management team. This is the first major rejig after the amalgamation of HDFC Ltd on July 1. "The runway for our growth is large. This change is being done to bring in a very sharp focus on leveraging what we have built and for enhanced execution," said Sashidhar Jagdishan, managing director and chief executive of HDFC Bank, explaining the reason for this overhaul.

A first in 10 yrs: Currency flow drops in H1 due to Rs 2k note withdrawal

A first in 10 yrs: Currency flow drops in H1 due to Rs 2k note withdrawal

Rediff.com   3 Oct 2023

The currency in circulation (CIC) declined in the first half of this financial year and this is the first time this has happened in H1 in at least 10 years. The CIC on March 31, 2023, was Rs 33.78 trillion, which fell to Rs 33.01 trillion on September 22 -- a difference of about Rs 76,658 crore. In the first half of the last two financial years, the CIC went up by Rs 33,357 crore in FY23 and Rs 84,978 crore in FY22.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Why All Is Not Well In Bharat Gears Family

Why All Is Not Well In Bharat Gears Family

Rediff.com   26 Aug 2023

The sons learned that they had been completely disinherited and that Surinder Kanwar's new wife would inherit everything.

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.

'Jeevan Kiran offers a risk cover at no cost'

'Jeevan Kiran offers a risk cover at no cost'

Rediff.com   24 Aug 2023

'At the policy's maturity, the total premium is refunded.'

FPIs keep debt market bets steady despite narrowing bond yield gap

FPIs keep debt market bets steady despite narrowing bond yield gap

Rediff.com   16 Aug 2023

Despite the narrowing spread of yields between the benchmark 10-year Indian government bond and the 10-year US Treasury bond, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) are continuing to invest in the domestic debt market this year -- a trend backed by a stable currency and a less volatile bond market. FPIs have been net buyers in the debt market in 2023 so far, marking the first time since 2019. The yield spread between the 10-year Indian government bond and the 10-year US Treasury note stood at 3.14 per cent on August 8 - the narrowest in over a decade.

'ICICI Pru's focus is on value of new business growth'

'ICICI Pru's focus is on value of new business growth'

Rediff.com   15 Aug 2023

'If through growth and serving the customer we become number one, we will be very happy and very proud.'

Fundraising activity in debt market gathers speed ahead of festival season

Fundraising activity in debt market gathers speed ahead of festival season

Rediff.com   2 Aug 2023

Fundraising activity in the debt market is gaining momentum ahead of the festival season. Several non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) are planning to raise at least Rs 5,560 crore in the next two days by issuing bonds, with a greenshoe size of Rs 6,370 crore. Ajay Malglunia, managing director and head of investment grade group at JM Financial, said, "The market likes certainty, the market will gain clarity after the US Federal Reserve's (Fed's) policy.

As food prices spiral, fight against inflation not over: RBI report

As food prices spiral, fight against inflation not over: RBI report

Rediff.com   18 Jul 2023

The spike in food prices at the onset of the monsoon season has corroborated the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) view that the fight against inflation is far from over, the State of the Economy report of the central bank said. At the same time, the report said that the country is poised to become the fastest-growing major economy in the world, notwithstanding some sequential moderation in economic activity in June. Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation rate increased to 4.8 per cent in June 2023, from 4.3 per cent in May, primarily on account of an increase in food inflation.

'The first priority is to ensure seamless customer service without any disruption'

'The first priority is to ensure seamless customer service without any disruption'

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2023

'We created war rooms -- from an IT perspective and also a customer war room -- to address any challenges that come up.'