A host of public sector banks had cut interest rates in the earlier part of this year following an advisory from Finance Minister P Chidambaram in January. Private and smaller state-owned banks, however, did not cut rates.
Experts (forex consultants and CFOs) estimate the notional losses on derivative products in Ludhiana to be Rs 200 crore to Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion), with a prominent textile player leading the table. But no company is willing to talk about their exposure or losses. A few companies, such as Vardhman Textiles, part of the S P Oswal Group, said they had no exposure.
Basel-II mandates banks to set aside more capital for advances to unrated companies. From Apr 09, the problem will grow bigger since all loans above Rs 20 cr will require similar treatment unless companies get themselves rated. Basel-II is the 2nd of the global banking accords that provide banks with guidelines to measure various types of risk they take. Indian banks have to be Basel-II-compliant from this fiscal. Banks will have to assign 20% risk weight to AAA-rated firms.
On March 30, the ICAI asked all companies to disclose and/or provide for all losses on derivative contracts, except for forward contracts where a company needed to comply with accounting standard AS11. So far, Indian companies were not required to declare their gains or losses on derivatives; the ICAI's new accounting standard AS30 required them to reveal these gains or losses from April 1, 2011, a deadline it advanced by three years.
Lenders ask RBI to ensure cheaper credit for infrastructure sector. Banks say while hardening of rates may be required to combat inflation, even a 50 basis point rise could render many projects unviable. In a meeting with RBI, bankers factored in the impact of higher interest rates on most sectors as a part of the inflation management drive but indicated that the government & the central bank should take steps to ensure cheaper credit for building roads, power plants & ports.
While banks are busy firming up business plans for 2008-09, some of them have already conveyed to the Reserve Bank of India about prospects of a moderation in the credit growth. In March, many banks held talks with RBI on resource conditions and growth prospects. In fact, Bank of India has already scaled down the estimate for the current financial year to 17-18 per cent compared with the 24 per cent rise it had targeted in the just-concluded financial year.
Corporate profits will come under severe pressure for the fourth quarter ended March 2008 as companies will have to provide for any losses on forex derivative products, owing to a new accounting norm announced on Saturday. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has asked all companies to disclose and/or provide for all losses on derivative contracts, except for forward contracts, where a company needs to comply with accounting standard AS11.
The move, if implemented, could change the way banks transact business. For starters, the loyal public sector bank customers could be the biggest gainers, with the Pay Commission recommending that government offices should stay closed only on the three national holidays -- Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15) and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2). All cheque clearances are expected to be faster and make money available in your accounts earlier than at present.
Experts say that until the market bounces back to a respectable level and creates confidence among investors, who could look forward to some price appreciation, IPOs will not be successful.
The dollar fell below 100 yen earlier on Thursday for the first time since 1995. The rise of yen against the dollar is no cause of major worry for Indian firms as their yen loans are mostly covered. Forex experts said that 90 per cent of yen loans have been hedged. But if they are not, corporates will take a mark-to-market hit when they value their liabilities at the year-end date. Since rupee too has risen against the yen, there is no serious cause of worry for India Inc.
Corporate India may be sitting on a $3 billion to $5 billion (Rs 12,000 crore - Rs 20,000 crore) notional loss on its exposure to foreign exchange derivatives. When the price of the underlying asset (derivatives in this case) depreciates, companies that have invested in these derivatives have to account for the loss in their books. This process is called marking to market.
Airlines earn ancillary revenues from freight, sale of food, drinks and gifts onboard, sale of travel insurance, hotel rooms and car rentals, through frequent flier programmes, and by trying to cross-sell other products like credit cards and medical insurance. Globally, airlines make 4-5 per cent of their revenues from ancillary sources.
The DLF group has deferred the Singapore listing of DLF Office Trust, the real estate investment trust of DLF Asset, till the market condition improved, said sources close to the Gurgaon-based real restate group. DLF Asset has received investments worth $600 million from hedge fund DE Shaw and Lehman Bothers. DLF may now raise Rs 2,000 crore through private trusts or a private placement by March end.
Rejects proposals by Bank of India, IndusInd, Kotak Mahindra and HDFC.
Paramount Airways claims to have a break even, as other Indian carriers are facing losses.
The airline is inducting two more 70-seater Embraer planes, which will be based in Bangalore and will be used to connect Bangalore and Chennai with Pune and Goa, and then other cities in western India.
ArcelorMittal has moved a few steps forward in setting up its 12-million tonnes steel plant in Keonjhar district of Orissa
DSP Merill Lynch managing director Monish Mahurkar gives his take on the present Indian debt market and its future course in a wide-ranging interview with Business Standard.
Faced with a lean season when occupancies drop 15 to 20 per cent, airlines are trying to lure fliers with cheaper fares. If you time your travel well (midweek, off-peak hours), you can still fly many sectors in the country for Rs 2,525.
RBI has come down heavily on banks and dealers that are holding government securities portfolio.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances