Namrata Acharya And Abhijit Lele

Stories by Namrata Acharya And Abhijit Lele

Bankers not hopeful of festive boost to credit uptick

Bankers not hopeful of festive boost to credit uptick

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2015

The festive season starts from August and last till December.

Microfinancier Bandhan is banking on people's trust

Microfinancier Bandhan is banking on people's trust

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2015

There are perks for banking with the newest bank in India.

Chit funds eye Rs 5K crore a year from NRIs

Chit funds eye Rs 5K crore a year from NRIs

Rediff.com   19 Jul 2015

RBI has allowed NRIs to invest in chit fund companies on a non-repatriation basis, subject to certain conditions

Greece crisis hits India Inc's offshore fund raising plan

Greece crisis hits India Inc's offshore fund raising plan

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2015

Bond issuances dipped 31.4% during January-June

Greek crisis prompts SBI to delay $1.5-billion bond sale

Greek crisis prompts SBI to delay $1.5-billion bond sale

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2015

SBI said the crisis in Grece would have little impact on the bank.

PSU banks put Rs 14,000-cr bad loans on the block

PSU banks put Rs 14,000-cr bad loans on the block

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2015

Punjab National Bank has the largest share.

Week after RBI prodding most PSBs yet to cut base rates

Week after RBI prodding most PSBs yet to cut base rates

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2015

Banks have issues with their balance sheet profiles, say PSB executives.

Why recent rate cut will not impact banks financials

Why recent rate cut will not impact banks financials

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2015

Recent rates cuts by most banks may not have a significant impact on margins, say analysts.

Scam helped Rose Valley create Rs 2,500-cr assets

Scam helped Rose Valley create Rs 2,500-cr assets

Rediff.com   9 Apr 2015

Rose Valley is one of the biggest money businesses after Sahara.

Rate cut will reduce the stress on customers: SBI

Rate cut will reduce the stress on customers: SBI

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2015

'The rate cut will reduce the stress on customers and help the bank reduce its provisioning bill.'

RBI likely to hold rates tomorrow

RBI likely to hold rates tomorrow

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2015

Most say a rate cut could come in RBI's June policy.

The changing face of Kolkata's Kabuliwala

The changing face of Kolkata's Kabuliwala

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2015

The Kabuliwalas of Kolkata, traditional moneylenders, have seen their numbers shrink.

Insurers see a change agent in new FDI rules

Insurers see a change agent in new FDI rules

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2015

Inflow of more funds is likely to widen the reach of insurance and drive M&A activities in the sector where growth has stalled.

Insurers set the ball rolling on foreign stake hike

Insurers set the ball rolling on foreign stake hike

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2015

Bharti will move FIPB soon for increasing Axa's stake to 49%

Now 'Pay in Parts' for Armani Jeans

Now 'Pay in Parts' for Armani Jeans

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2015

High-end brand experiments with EMIs via credit cards to push market share.

Interest rate cuts only after March

Interest rate cuts only after March

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2015

Banks have not cut rates yet as March is typically a busy season.

Ambani brothers seek faster approval for stalled projects

Ambani brothers seek faster approval for stalled projects

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2015

The Ambani brothers, Mukesh and Anil, came together on Thursday to raise the issue of stalled projects plaguing India Inc and implored the Maharashtra government and the Centre to make Mumbai, India's financial capital, an easier place for business and investments. "Several projects are stuck for many years in Mumbai and we would like to know how the government intends to improve the financing and execution of projects, including those relating to infrastructure and education which have been in limbo for long and are affecting the growth of the city," Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani told Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Seated on the same table was his brother, apart from Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry and State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya. Jaitley was addressing the Mumbai Next MMR Transformation conclave, organised by the Maharashtra government and Mumbai First here, through video conference. In his reply, Jaitley said the government was exploring several options of infrastructure financing in India and that a number of international bodies were ready to fund infrastructure development projects. He added the government was keenly considering these funding sources. While praising Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for honesty, Jaitley also had a word of advice. Apart from being honest, the government had to be decisive, he said. On his part, Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani told the chief minister about his experience of decisions being delayed due to an indecisive bureaucracy and the need to protect officials who wanted to take quick decisions. "Through the past many years, we have faced a number of obstacles in decision-making," he said, adding he was speaking as someone who had lived and invested in Mumbai. Fadnavis responded by saying he would bring about a transparent process to ring-fence officials. Both the Ambani brothers have announced a number of infrastructure projects in and around Mumbai, including a world-class convention centre in Bandra Kurla Complex by RIL, but very few have actually fructified. RIL's special economic zone project failed to take off due to land acquisition problems in Raigarh, while a second SEZ near Mumbai is stuck due to lack of clarity in SEZ norms. The first phase of the Mumbai Metro, set up by Anil Ambani's Reliance Infrastructure, was marred by cost overruns and run-ins with the government over fares. Subsequently, the company withdrew from the second and larger phase, citing inordinate delay. Anil Ambani also withdrew from Mumbai's sea link project on the same grounds. The brothers had also bid for a trans-harbour sea link between Navi Mumbai and Mumbai under the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government, but their bid was rejected. Reliance Infrastructure is also the power supplier to more than half of this city. Participating in the conclave, some of India Inc's leading bankers said making Mumbai a financial hub would take at least a decade. SBI's Bhattacharya said the Indian currency should be made fully convertible and facilities should be created for it. "However, for this, the economy needs to look up and that will happen only in the next 7-10 years, not immediately," she added. Sunil Kaushal, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered, India, pitched for strong infrastructure to support development. "We will take a long time to develop into a global financial centre. We need to solve transport bottlenecks in Mumbai and have lifestyle facilities for people working in and around these areas," he said.

ZEE's Subhash Chandra bets on white-label ATMs

ZEE's Subhash Chandra bets on white-label ATMs

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2015

It is likely he will rope in an international ATM manufacturer as a strategic partner with equity stake.

Banks set for lending rate action this week

Banks set for lending rate action this week

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2015

A host of lenders, including State Bank of India, IDBI Bank, Indian Bank and Andhra Bank, have lined up meetings of their asset-liability committees this week, to review their lending and deposit rates.

India's Bandhan among Asia's top microfinance firms

India's Bandhan among Asia's top microfinance firms

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2014

Race for Asia's No. 1 MFI spot: Bandhan now closes in on Grameen Bank