A couple of policy rate hikes still possible: HDFC

Leading private sector lender HDFC Bank today said it expects the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to increase its key interest rates a couple of times more to
contain the spiraling inflation.

"What they (RBI) will do in this policy, I don't know, but one or two rate hikes are in the offing till inflation comes under control," HDFC Bank Managing Director Aditya Puri told reporters on the sidelines of the bank's annual general meeting.

The central bank has raised key interest rates 10 times since March, 2010, with the latest on June 16 when it hiked short-term lending (repo) and borrowing (reverse repo) rates by 25 basis points each to 7.5% and 6.5%, respectively. "We are fortunate the oil price is coming down, global
economy is slowing so commodity prices will come down. So at least the supply side factors will come down by a bit," he added.

After a month-long uptrend, food inflation plunged to one-and-a-half month low of 7.78% for the week ended June 18, down from 9.13% in the previous week as vegetables and pulses became cheaper.

Puri added his bank so far has not faced pressure on its margins and credit demand.

"We as a bank have not faced pressure on credit offtake and margins. Our margins are sound and our credit offtake has grown," he said, adding that the lender would maintain its net interest margin in the range of 3.9-4.2% during the current fiscal.

On the hike in interest and deposit rates of the bank, Puri said it would be decided during the assets and liability committee (ALCO) meet next week. The bank's base rate at present stands at 9.25%.

He further said the bank had been getting a strong demand from the working capital clients, but as far as infrastructure was concerned there was a slowness in credit. Puri did not divulge information on HDFC Bank's expansion
plan, but said the lender has applied to RBI for opening of new branches, and they would "open as many branches as RBI approves".