Fixed deposits from nationalised banks delivered higher returns than equities, outperforming both inflation and stock market benchmarks.
From the Sensex firms, State Bank of India, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, Maruti, HCL Tech, Larsen & Toubro, Mahindra & Mahindra and Infosys were among the major winners. However, Hindustan Unilever, Eternal, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, and Sun Pharma were among the laggards.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Friday sought to allay fears that interest rates will go up in the face of the decision of ICICI Bank and HDFC to hike home loan rates by 0.50 per cent.
The rise in consumer price index (CPI) inflation could see the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in an extended pause mode as regards interest rates, and in turn, keep the market rally in check, believe analysts. Signs of inflation cooling off in the US, however, is likely to provide some cushion as the expectations of a change in stance by the US Fed as regards interest rates is likely to aid sentiment. Back home, CPI inflation surged for the first time in five months to 4.81 per cent in June 2023, and was higher than the street's expectations of 4.58 per cent.
The Indian rupee rebounded against the US dollar after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) restricted banks' net open positions in dollars. This move prompted banks to sell dollars, providing temporary support for the rupee amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices.
Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings, both with eight points from nine games, face off in a crucial IPL match in Delhi. Both teams need a win to stay in contention for the playoffs.
Shrugging off concerns over the depreciation of rupee, the RBI has cut interest rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent in a bid to further bolster economic growth, which rose to a six-quarter high of 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of the current financial year.
Goldman Sachs has materially lowered its earnings growth forecast for Indian companies by a cumulative 9 percentage points over the next two years.
Among Sensex firms, Bajaj Finance, ICICI Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Bajaj Finserv, HCL Tech and HDFC Bank were the major gainers. However, Maruti, Eternal, UltraTech Cement and State Bank of India were among the laggards.
Riteish Deshmukh's Shivaji may not be a flawless portrayal, but still remains engaging throughout, applauds Mayur Sanap.
The Infinix Note 60 Pro is now on sale across India -- the entry model is equipped with 8 GB memory and 128 GB storage. It is priced at 31,999.
The district administration has announced compensation details for people affected by the Vadhvan Port project in Palghar, Maharashtra, with agricultural land receiving over Rs 2 crore per hectare on average.
'The Atomic Energy Commission has approved the FDI policy and it is going in for ministerial consultations.'
The Dell 15 (2026) enters the Indian market with an introductory price of 69,699 for the entry-level model, which includes 8 GB memory and a 512 GB SSD.
In a release on Thursday, A Sakthivel, president, TEA said, "It was a disappointment that there was no announcement on the reduction of interest rate given to the MSME Export Sector, which is urgently needed to have a competitive edge for sustaining in the global market."
Major paint companies in India, including Asian Paints, Berger Paints, Akzo Paints, and Kansai Nerolac, have announced price hikes ranging from 1% to 8% across various product lines, effective from mid-March to late April, in response to persistently high crude oil and gas prices.
Conversely a rate hike may have positive effects if it triggers currency appreciation.
With tightening in liquidity condition and expected decline in the inflation by early 2009, there is only a remote possibility of further hike in interest rate by the Reserve Bank, the US-based investment banker Goldman Sachs said in a report. Further, given the current global environment of tight liquidity and the central banks move last week to ease liquidity conditions, any further cash reserve ratio hike is firmly ruled out, it said.
The government has approved 8.5 per cent rate of interest on employees' provident fund for the 2020-21 fiscal, a source said. Just ahead of Diwali, this is a good news for over five crore subscribers of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). The 8.5 per cent rate of interest on provident fund deposits for the last financial year was decided by the EPFO's apex decision making body Central Board of Trustees (CBT) headed by Labour Minister in March this year.
Market sentiment is likely to remain cautious as investors position themselves for the upcoming Union Budget and the US Fed's interest rate decision, where expectations are muted.
India's fertiliser subsidy bill for the current financial year (FY27) is projected to increase by approximately 20% due to surging global prices, primarily driven by the West Asia crisis, a senior official confirmed. Despite this, retail prices for urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) will remain unchanged, ensuring adequate supply for the kharif season.
RBI has chosen to keep all key rates and ratios unchanged in its policy review unveiled earlier in the day.
The government's huge borrowing to fund the high fiscal deficit could jack up interest rates, but if used efficiently, this could boost the Indian economy, reeling under a global meltdown, according to economists.
Dan Denning analyses the correlation between the soaring oil prices and banking rates in the Western world.
Trade unions' had demanded 8.9 per cent interest rate.
The country's largest private lender ICICI Bank on Monday said that interest rates are expected to come down in the next one-and-a-half months.
S&P Global Ratings warns that a sustained rise in crude oil prices to $130 per barrel could significantly slow India's economic growth, weaken fiscal metrics, and strain corporate and banking sector performance, potentially reducing growth by up to 80 basis points.
The country's largest private sector lender ICICI Bank on Thursday said lending rates will start going up any time now, quite contrary to the SBI chairman's projection that borrowers can breathe easy till Diwali.
It would be beneficial for the economy to hold on to high interest rates till inflation numbers are under control.
Adityanath had earlier referred to a conspiracy angle behind the violence during the protest, which is currently under police investigation.
The government has approved 8.1 per cent rate of interest on employees' provident fund (EPF) deposits for 2021-22 -- an over four-decade low -- for about five crore subscribers of retirement fund body EPFO. Earlier in March this year, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) had decided to lower the interest on provident fund deposits for 2021-22 to 8.1 per cent from 8.5 per cent provided in 2020-21. According to an EPFO office order issued on Friday and reviewed by PTI, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has conveyed approval of the central government to credit 8.1 per cent rate of interest for 2021-22 to each member of the EPF scheme.
The Reserve Bank kept bank rate unchanged at 6 per cent, short-term borrowing (reverse repo) was kept intact 6 per cent, lending (repo) at 7.75 per cent. Cash Reserve Ratio, a statutory deposit by commercial banks with the central bank, was retained at 7.5 per cent.
RBI is likely to keep interest rates stable in the near term, revealed Moody's. It may also ease its monetary policy stance later in the year.
Ehsan Malinga shines amid a record SRH chase against MI, claiming the Purple Cap with a disciplined spell and continuing his impressive rise in IPL 2026.
A higher-than-expected consumer price inflation (CPI) print for March in the US has dashed hopes of an interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve (US Fed) in June. Analysts now expect the US central bank to start cutting rates in September, provided inflation remains in check and oil prices remain supportive. The markets, analysts believe, partially factored in this possibility.
Lenders are actively monitoring gold price volatility, prompting them to ask borrowers for additional gold collateral or partial principal repayment when loan-to-value (LTV) thresholds are breached, particularly for loans disbursed in February.
Bankers see upward pressure on interest rates after the Reserve Bank raised two key short-term rates in the busy season credit policy of October.
The members of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voiced different views on the interest rate and stance, with two of them indicating they may not vote for further rate increases even if Governor Shaktikanta Das and Deputy Governor Michael Patra maintain bringing down inflation as their primary objective, the minutes of the December review of the monetary policy showed. The other two members remained neutral. The MPC increased the policy repo rate by 35 basis points (bps) - which was lower than the previous three hikes of 50 bps. The repo rate has been hiked by 225 bps to 6.25 per cent since May this year.
