Paving the way for takeover of crisis-ridden Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC), the Reserve Bank of India on Friday granted in-principle approval to the Centrum Financial Services to set up a small finance bank. Centrum Financial Services was one of the applicants for takeover of the PMC Bank. "This 'in-principle' approval has been accorded in specific pursuance to the Centrum Financial Services Limited's offer dated February 1, 2021, in response to the expression of interest notification (November 3, 2020) published by the PMC Bank Ltd," the RBI said in a statement.
Only when we are part of the same family, which will happen down the line, then, of course, we will give them (PMC depositors) all the assurance and the comfort.'
The restrictions on Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank has been extended for another three months till the end of March next year. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the restrictions as further action on the draft scheme for the takeover of the crisis-hit bank by the Delhi-based Unity Small Finance Bank (USFB) is in process. The central bank had prepared a draft scheme of amalgamation and the same was placed in the public domain on November 22 as part of seeking suggestions and objections, if any, from members, depositors and other creditors of PMC Bank and USFB.
Crisis-hit Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank's takeover by the Unity Small Finance Bank (USFBL) came into effect on Tuesday, with the government notifying the scheme of amalgamation. PMC Bank branches will operate as USFBL branches from Tuesday onwards, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in a statement on Tuesday. The takeover comes into force little over two years after the RBI superseded the board of the PMC Bank after financial irregularities came to light.
'Banking is a business of trust.'
Inching closer to resolving the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank issue, the Reserve Bank on Monday came out with a draft scheme for takeover of the crisis-hit bank by the Delhi-based Unity Small Finance Bank (USFB). The draft scheme of amalgamation envisages takeover of the assets and liabilities of PMC Bank, including deposits, by USFB, thus giving a greater degree of protection for the depositors, the RBI said. In September 2019, the RBI had superseded the board of PMC Bank and placed it under regulatory restrictions, including cap on withdrawals by its customers, after detection of certain financial irregularities, hiding and misreporting of loans given to real estate developer HDIL.
There will be different ways of returning the money, depending on the profile of the depositors and the amount, predicts Tamal Bandyopadhyay.
From the 30-share pack, 18 stocks ended with gains led by SBI, which surged 27.58 per cent, and ICICI Bank 14.69 per cent.
After a sharp outperformance in the mid-and small-cap segments in the first half of calendar year 2023 (H1-CY23), analysts are now turning cautious on these two market segments and suggest investors stay selective and look for valuation comfort and earnings visibility before investing. The S&P BSE Midcap index has surged 13.7 per cent in H1-CY23, and the S&P BSE Small-cap index gained 12.7 per cent during this period, data shows. The S&P BSE Sensex, in comparison, has moved up 6.4 per cent.
Investors have become poorer by a massive Rs 19,50,288.05 crore as equity market sell-offs continued for the fifth day in a row on Monday. The BSE Sensex plunged 1,545.67 points or 2.62 per cent to settle at 57,491.51 on Monday, while, the NSE Nifty slumped 468.05 points or 2.66 per cent to settle at 17,149.10. This is the steepest single-day drop for the indices in about two months. Over the last five sessions, the 30-share Sensex has tumbled 3,817.4 points or 6.22 per cent.
There was broad-based rally with participation across sectors creating enormous wealth for investors but starting 2018, the rally got concentrated into select large-cap companies with under performance in broader markets.
The world's biggest lockdown that shut a majority of the factories and businesses, suspended flights, stopped trains and restricted movement of vehicles and people, may have cost the Indian economy Rs 7-8 lakh crore during the 21-day period, analysts and industry bodies said.
The reason is believed to be a 19% increase in interest cost.
Ajit Mishra, vice president, Research, Religare Broking, answers your queries.
Jindal's house was raided by the CBI on Tuesday.