Subrata Panda, Abhijit Lele &Amp; Samie Modak

Stories by Subrata Panda, Abhijit Lele &Amp; Samie Modak

HDFC Bank credit card to levy forex markup fee on use in India with overseas merchant

HDFC Bank credit card to levy forex markup fee on use in India with overseas merchant

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2022

The bank has said rent payments will not earn reward points, and redemption of reward points on various cards have been capped in certain segments.

RBI issues framework for Indian banks' foreign biz

RBI issues framework for Indian banks' foreign biz

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2022

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has put in place a framework to allow overseas subsidiaries and branches of Indian banks and financial institutions to undertake activities not specifically permitted in the Indian domestic market. The framework also specifies the applicability of these instructions to International Financial Services Centres in India, including Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). While these activities may not need prior approval, they are subject to compliance with all applicable laws/regulations and conditions stipulated by the RBI and those prescribed by the host regulator.

Excess credit growth to affect banks: Fitch

Excess credit growth to affect banks: Fitch

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2022

Global rating agency Fitch said on Monday that bank credit growth in excess of 13 per cent year on year in FY23 could put pressure on core equity tier ratios (CET1) of banks, especially public sector lenders. It may limit the buffers of Indian banks to absorb potential future losses. Bank credit expanded by 11.5 per cent in FY22. Full-year loan growth for FY23 will represent a modest slowdown from the 17 per cent YoY pace in H1FY23.

SBI in talks with EIB for euro 200 mn green funding

SBI in talks with EIB for euro 200 mn green funding

Rediff.com   14 Nov 2022

After securing a euro 150 million Credit line for solar energy finance from a German financial institution, State Bank of India is in talks with european Investment Bank for about euro 200 million to fund climate finance. Recently the country's largest lender obtained euro 150 million in green funding from German government-owned KFW on soft terms and a long repayment period. SBI will use funds to finance solar energy projects.

Credit card base of major issuers erodes in Q2 over RBI's norms

Credit card base of major issuers erodes in Q2 over RBI's norms

Rediff.com   31 Oct 2022

Credit card issuers saw significant erosion of their card base during the July-September quarter as the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) norms mandated deactivation of cards that have been inactive for a year. The second quarter of the current financial year saw outstanding cards-in-force decline by 2.55 million to 77.7 million. Prior to this, the industry, on an average, was witnessing a net addition of over 1.5 million credit cards a month as players became aggressive on the unsecured lending business after the pandemic.

Why Adani group's Sensex dream may have to wait

Why Adani group's Sensex dream may have to wait

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2022

Two firms belonging to the Adani group - India's most valued conglomerate - are part of the Nifty 50 index. The group, however, has no representation in the Sensex. And it could stay this way if a proposed index qualification rule change gets approved. Recently, Asia Index, a joint venture between S&P Dow Jones Indices and BSE responsible for index composition, floated a consultation paper where it proposed that a stock must have a derivative contract to be eligible for inclusion in the flagship 30-share Sensex index.

Active credit cards drop 2.3 million in August over new RBI norms

Active credit cards drop 2.3 million in August over new RBI norms

Rediff.com   28 Sep 2022

The outstanding credit card base dropped to 77.99 million in August from over 80 million in July, mainly on account of the new norms of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that warrant the deactivation of cards that are inactive for a year. While there was a 2.8 per cent decline in net card additions on a month-on-month (MoM) basis in August, a first in many months, credit card spends slipped 3 per cent on a high base. Still, spends topped the Rs 1-trillion mark for the sixth consecutive month.

Card Tokenisation: Players Ready, But Troubles Remain

Card Tokenisation: Players Ready, But Troubles Remain

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2022

Come October 1, merchants, payment aggregators and acquiring banks can no longer store the card details of customers.

Big Tech in financial system poses concentration risk: Shaktikanta Das

Big Tech in financial system poses concentration risk: Shaktikanta Das

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2022

The increasing involvement of Big Tech in the financial system could give rise to concentration risk and there are potential spillovers, which call for closer attention, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Tuesday. "...enormous amounts of consumer data is being generated and leveraged upon by a few entities (the so-called Big Tech) by virtue of their huge customer base. "Such developments raise concerns on concentration risk and potential spillovers as their level of engagement with the financial system strengthens in the years to come," Das said at the Global Fintech Fest 2022.

With one launch per day, NFOs are back with all guns blazing

With one launch per day, NFOs are back with all guns blazing

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2022

The Rs 38-trillion mutual fund (MF) industry is going through a new fund offer (NFO) rush. Since July 1, the industry has launched close to 70 NFOs. This follows the completion of a near three-month embargo period when the industry had vowed to not launch any new offerings till the time it implemented norms around pooling of investor accounts. As a result, between April and June 2022, the industry was able to launch just three NFOs.

How Banks Are Tackling Cyber Frauds

How Banks Are Tackling Cyber Frauds

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2022

To educate customers on the modus operandi of financial fraudsters and share inputs on safe banking habits, banks are now coming up with awareness campaigns aimed at preventing customers from falling into the trap of fraudsters.

In August, markets log 3rd highest monthly FPI inflows since Covid outbreak

In August, markets log 3rd highest monthly FPI inflows since Covid outbreak

Rediff.com   1 Sep 2022

In August, domestic equity markets garnered one of the highest foreign portfolio investor (FPI) flows since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, despite the US Federal Reserve standing firm on unwinding its stimulus measures to control inflation. FPIs pumped in over Rs 51,000 crore ($6.4 billion) in August, the most since December 2020 and the third-highest tally since March 2020-the month the Covid-19 pandemic roiled global markets. This was the second consecutive month of positive foreign flows. In the preceding nine months, FPIs had yanked out over $32 billion or Rs 2.2 trillion.

Credit card spends touch all-time high of Rs 1.16 trillion in July

Credit card spends touch all-time high of Rs 1.16 trillion in July

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2022

Credit card spends touched an all-time high of Rs 1.16 trillion in July, registering a growth of 6.5 per cent on a month-on-month basis and 54 per cent year-on-year, latest data put out by the Reserve Bank of India revealed. Spends have topped the Rs 1 trillion level for five consecutive months now. Industry participants are expecting further tailwinds in credit card spends with the onset of the festive season, where spends typically remain at an elevated level.

'Markets may remain sideways'

'Markets may remain sideways'

Rediff.com   29 Aug 2022

'The idea is to invest where there is opportunity.'

Banks rush to woo depositors ahead of festive season

Banks rush to woo depositors ahead of festive season

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2022

Commemorating 75 years of India's independence, SBI has launched a 75-day Utsav Deposit Scheme, offering 6.10 per cent for fixed deposits. Senior citizens will get an additional 0.50 per cent and the offer is on until October 30, SBI said.

After 15 months, RBI allows AmEx to acquire new credit card customers

After 15 months, RBI allows AmEx to acquire new credit card customers

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2022

The Reserve Bank of India has on Wednesday lifted the ban on new customer acquisition by American Express which was imposed with effect from May 2021 due to non-compliance with local data storage norms. "In view of the satisfactory compliance demonstrated by American Express Banking Corp. with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) circular dated April 6, 2018, on Storage of Payment System Data, the restrictions imposed, vide order dated April 23, 2021, on onboarding of new domestic customers have been lifted with immediate effect," RBI said. Similar bans were imposed on Diners Club International and Mastercard previously.

Indians remitted $6 bn in Q1FY23 under LRS scheme

Indians remitted $6 bn in Q1FY23 under LRS scheme

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2022

Outward remittances under the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) liberalised remittance scheme (LRS) made a strong comeback in the first quarter of FY23 as Indians increased spending on international travel, maintenance of close relatives, and gifts. The latest data for Q1FY23 released by the RBI shows that remittance by Indians under the scheme jumped 64.75 per cent to over $6.04 billion from $3.67 billion in Q1FY22. The amount remitted in Q1FY23 is even higher than that in Q4FY22, where outward remittance under LRS was to the tune of $5.8 billion. In April, about $2.02 billion was remitted, followed by $2.03 billion in May, and $1.98 billion in June, data released by RBI in the August bulletin shows.

Big-bang privatisation of PSUs can be harmful, says RBI article

Big-bang privatisation of PSUs can be harmful, says RBI article

Rediff.com   19 Aug 2022

A gradual approach to privatise public sector banks (PSBs) is more ideal than taking a big-bang approach, a study by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) staff has concluded. It has backed the government's idea to privatise two PSBs initially. Such a gradual approach would ensure that large-scale privatisation does not create a void in fulfilling important social objectives of financial inclusion and monetary transmission, the study has argued.

Bourses step up scrutiny of investors from Sikkim

Bourses step up scrutiny of investors from Sikkim

Rediff.com   10 Aug 2022

Stock exchanges have increased scrutiny of investors domiciled in Sikkim, following reports of illegal routing of investments through the Northeast state to evade taxes. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has directed its trading members (brokers) to re-verify and certify investors who have declared their permanent address as Sikkim. Further, brokers have been told to maintain a vigil on the location of devices used by Sikkim-based clients for trading to ensure these are genuine investors from the region.

In a first since 2010, domestic investors overtake FPIs as shareholders

In a first since 2010, domestic investors overtake FPIs as shareholders

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2022

After the massive sell-off since October, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) are no longer the biggest non-promoter-shareholders in top Indian companies. This has happened for the first time in over a decade. "At 25.6 per cent ownership of India's largest 75 companies, domestic investors are now larger holders than FPIs for the first time since 2010," said Morgan Stanley strategists Ridham Desai, Sheela Rathi and Nayant Parekh in a note.