Moneycontrol PRO
HomeAuthorAparna iyer

Aparna Iyer

Deputy Editor

Moneycontrol

Are you a broker or broke? Compliance and tech will decide

BUSINESS

Are you a broker or broke? Compliance and tech will decide

Tighter disclosure requirements and fortified margin rules are taking a toll on small brokers who don’t have the scale of large, tech-enabled broking houses

As bond yields march ahead, banks may run up trading losses in FY23

BUSINESS

As bond yields march ahead, banks may run up trading losses in FY23

The opportunities to make money off trading would be stymied by a hawkish monetary policy. Bond yields have risen across markets globally, which puts further pressure on domestic government paper.

Will the sun rise on PSU banks’ return on assets?

BUSINESS

Will the sun rise on PSU banks’ return on assets?

PSBs have been losing money on their capital, thanks to the long-drawn credit cycle where they paid high credit costs due to delinquent loans. That may be changing now, say analysts

As gold loans lose shine, lenders face growth test

BUSINESS

As gold loans lose shine, lenders face growth test

Small businesses, a significant portion of gold loan borrowers, are seeing their balance sheets under pressure again. This could jeopardise their repayment capacity 

Interview | Shriram Transport Finance not in a hurry to become a bank, says MD Revankar

BUSINESS

Interview | Shriram Transport Finance not in a hurry to become a bank, says MD Revankar

The definition of banking in India is restrictive and it is better to be an NBFC for now, Revankar told Moneycontrol.

LIC IPO: Insurer to focus on boosting policyholders’ returns, says chairman

BUSINESS

LIC IPO: Insurer to focus on boosting policyholders’ returns, says chairman

The insurance behemoth will try to arrest its market share loss, ramp up its digital channels and make tactical tweaks on equity investments to please policyholders, Chairman MR Kumar says

LIC listing: How private sector peers fared in their debut

IPO

LIC listing: How private sector peers fared in their debut

Listing gains are more a function of broad market sentiment and conditions and not just the share issuing company’s business fundamentals alone

Why is the Reserve Bank of India buying gold?

MARKETS

Why is the Reserve Bank of India buying gold?

Diversification of forex assets, away from the dollar, has gained popularity after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine invited international sanctions against the former

Indian banks’ bumper profits don’t show economic scars 

BUSINESS

Indian banks’ bumper profits don’t show economic scars 

The aggregate net profit of 27 listed commercial banks has shown an 86 percent year-on-year jump in the March quarter

Interview: Elevated inflation here to stay, repo rate could be 5.5% by December, says HSBC’s Pranjul Bhandari

BUSINESS

Interview: Elevated inflation here to stay, repo rate could be 5.5% by December, says HSBC’s Pranjul Bhandari

Contributors to sticky inflation could include higher prices of electricity and agricultural produce, which are expected to kick in later this year.

The RBI will manage rupee, as always

MARKETS

The RBI will manage rupee, as always

The most obvious reason for RBI intervention is that a weakening exchange rate increases the country’s import burden. The central bank of a net importing country is justified in defending its currency during bouts of depreciation.

India's swaps are ahead of bonds in anticipating rate hikes

MARKETS

India's swaps are ahead of bonds in anticipating rate hikes

Swaps have been a better gauge of interest rate hikes and when they have not been accurate, swaps have at least been a true reflection of the inflation situation.

Indian economy has got long COVID, and a 12-year struggle awaits

BUSINESS

Indian economy has got long COVID, and a 12-year struggle awaits

On a cumulative basis, the economy has to make up for a staggering Rs 52.6 lakh crore of output lost 

Reverse merger with IDFC would set IDFC First Bank stock free

BUSINESS

Reverse merger with IDFC would set IDFC First Bank stock free

IDFC’s complex corporate structure with step-down subsidiaries has meant the process has been glacial. While a reverse merger with its parent may not be detrimental to IDFC First Bank, uncertainties surrounding the process need to be removed for the bank’s shares to perform.

Interview | HDFC Life’s strong growth to sustain, says MD Vibha Padalkar

BUSINESS

Interview | HDFC Life’s strong growth to sustain, says MD Vibha Padalkar

The insurer expects claims to normalise to historic levels now that the pandemic has receded

How do ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank stack up, in five charts

BUSINESS

How do ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank stack up, in five charts

ICICI Bank has been closing the valuation gap with HDFC Bank, which is still the most valuable private sector lender but is not able to command the premium it used to. Here's how the rivalry is shaping up

Credit cards a good carrot for NBFCs amid tightening regulation

BUSINESS

Credit cards a good carrot for NBFCs amid tightening regulation

The change will mean that NBFCs can now earn interest income on their credit cards as the credit would be from their own balance sheet 

ICICI Bank tops rival HDFC Bank in valuation multiple for first time

BUSINESS

ICICI Bank tops rival HDFC Bank in valuation multiple for first time

Strong investor interest has helped the lender topple rival HDFC Bank as an expensive stock in what some analysts would call a “crowded trade,” which means a position or theme embraced by a large number of investors.

The long and short of HDFC Bank stock’s prospects

BUSINESS

The long and short of HDFC Bank stock’s prospects

While there are reasons to conclude that the HDFC Bank-HDFC merger is a win-win for both, there are hurdles to cross over the next 12-18 months. This has begun to sink in and the initial investor euphoria has waned.

India’s balance of payments is getting into rough waters

BUSINESS

India’s balance of payments is getting into rough waters

The forex reserve heap is down $38 billion from its record high. Of this, a fall of $28 billion has come in the last five weeks

NBFCs expected to put up a good Q4 show but watch out for outlook

BUSINESS

NBFCs expected to put up a good Q4 show but watch out for outlook

Loan growth and net interest income for NBFCs are catching up fast, yet still below pre-Covid levels

17-month high inflation set to hurt India’s consumption recovery

BUSINESS

17-month high inflation set to hurt India’s consumption recovery

Retail inflation is now broad-based, hitting household budgets from every corner. It comes at an unfortunate time when Indians finally have the opportunity to get back to their pre-pandemic spending on both goods and services

Banks set to report strong recovery from pandemic, outlook critical

BUSINESS

Banks set to report strong recovery from pandemic, outlook critical

Pain points for banks were loans to small businesses, especially those given under the Emergency Credit-Linked Guarantee Scheme. Microfinance loans, too, had come under pressure because of the spread of the Omicron variant in the March quarter

Between digital assault and regulation, NBFCs have it tough

BUSINESS

Between digital assault and regulation, NBFCs have it tough

As regulatory arbitrage comes to an end thanks to the central bank and as nimble fintech companies nip at their heels, NBFCs will have to reinvent themselves

Advisory Alert: It has come to our attention that certain individuals are representing themselves as affiliates of Moneycontrol and soliciting funds on the false promise of assured returns on their investments. We wish to reiterate that Moneycontrol does not solicit funds from investors and neither does it promise any assured returns. In case you are approached by anyone making such claims, please write to us at grievanceofficer@nw18.com or call on 02268882347