BUSINESS
Union Budget 2024: Will this year be affordable housing’s big comeback?
Budget 2024-25: Affordable housing is on the cusp of sustained growth and all it needs is continued government push.
BUSINESS
HDFC Life’s Q1 new business margin shrinkage points to a growth challenge
HDFC Life’s new business margins contracted sharply and ULIPs driving business growth is not a good outlook for margins.
BUSINESS
It pays to have a big banking partner for life insurers
Bank branches have been selling ULIPs like hot cakes, especially due to the current bullish equity market.
BUSINESS
For NBFCs, Q1 won’t be the toughest in a year of moderation
NBFCs would face multiple pressure points, from margins to asset quality this year
BUSINESS
Federal Bank’s deposit game must be strong for investors to stick with it
The private sector lender must make its branches sweat more for CASA deposits
BUSINESS
One ratio would determine how banks are rerated in FY25
Credit-to-deposit ratio is giving banks the biggest of headaches
BUSINESS
RBI's financial stability report shows India’s banks are resilient, but its markets are yet to be
High capital, profitability and low bad loans characterise banks’ resilience, but India’s capital markets are still vulnerable
BUSINESS
As RBI forces bigwig issuers to rein in credit cards, lenders turn wary of plastic
Growth in credit card issuance and spends have moderated, but Indians remain big spenders
BUSINESS
Is Ujjivan SFB’s hope of a universal bank licence enough to comfort investors?
Rise in stress has prompted the lender to reduce its expectations on growth this fiscal year
BUSINESS
Will bond yields in India be lower for longer?
Rate cuts on the horizon, a likely friendly budget and finally the expected money flow from foreign investors is keeping the bond party alive
BUSINESS
Small loans and the big question on consumption
The average ticket size of micro loans has increased by 12 percent in FY24 and more than 12 percent of borrowers have taken a loan from four or more lenders.
BUSINESS
May springs a surprise for life insurers with volume growth
A seasonally light month of May brought a notable growth in the number of policies sold for life insurers.
BUSINESS
Why a hawkish RBI will prevail over a dovish MPC
Key personnel changes in the MPC over the next year make policy rate cut bets tricky
BUSINESS
What the new government must do to make public sector banks world-class
The Indian banking system is in a good place and this is the best time for the government to fix niggling issues
BUSINESS
RBI’s crackdown on Edelweiss ARC reveals a worrying governance landscape
India’s ARCs have an abysmal track record when it comes to recoveries and many are struggling to stay afloat. The RBI’s concern is serious governance lapses, something that it has warned in the case of Edelweiss ARC.
BUSINESS
Eight years on, recoveries through insolvency code remain disappointing
The IBC process is considerably slowed due to litigating promoters, dissenting creditors, and poor infrastructure. Unless these issues are fixed, it is unlikely that recoveries from the insolvency process would improve.
BUSINESS
Will LIC, the insurance whale, turn into the shark its investors want?
LIC has been losing market share hand over fist and this hasn’t stopped. But its valuation has perked up in recent months, as the insurance whale has given indications that it is serious about grabbing market share.
BUSINESS
The different shades of consumer confidence in India
The South is more confident over economic conditions, even during tough times while the northern states exhibit more pessimism than the national average in consumer confidence. But when it comes to hope, the North wins
BUSINESS
RBI just fattened the government's purse, but got itself a problem
The windfall dividend to the government could become a headache for the RBI.
BUSINESS
Bandhan Bank: All we want for valuations is a CEO in the corner office
While asset quality issues continue to be a thorn, its superior deposit growth has helped Bandhan Bank. Even so, a new CEO is all what investors want, and quickly
BUSINESS
A slowing affordable housing market is finding new money
Affordable housing market’s share in total housing loans has shrunk over the years and financiers to this segment have seen tepid growth in assets under management. That said, non-housing loans have been a big growth driver for them
BUSINESS
SBI’s Q4 reflects India’s economic buoyancy, gives hope for more
SBI’s biggest strength during the fourth quarter was its firm lid on operating expenses. Operating expenses rose by just 1.83 percent year-on-year against double digit increases reported by comparable large peers
BUSINESS
Canara Bank has its intent in the right place, but not numbers
Canara Bank has given a conservative guidance for FY25 where it expects loan and deposit growth to be lower than FY24 and net interest margins to contract.
BUSINESS
In the margin game, public banks are between a rock and a hard place
The compulsion to increase market share and attract more deposits has meant that public sector banks have seen a bigger erosion in net interest margins. The increase in risk weights on select loans has also hurt these banks
