BUSINESS
SBI Q3 numbers tick all the right boxes, but challenges persist
SBI’s asset quality, while stable, hints at lingering fragility within sectors like microfinance
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day | Easing price trends set stage for a Friday rate cut
Food inflation, the villain in India’s inflation story, has finally begun to ease, although it is too early to say whether the decline is deceptive.
BUDGET
Big reforms missing in Budget, but banks could benefit from FM’s consumption boost
If the consumption boost translates into higher credit and deposit growth, the sector might still find reasons to cheer.
BUSINESS
Reforms in Insolvency Code: Why FM must take cues from Economic Survey
More courts, more benches, and better infrastructure were promised, but execution has been sluggish. Without immediate investment in strengthening the NCLT’s capacity, the backlog will only worsen, defeating the very purpose of the IBC
BUSINESS
Karnataka’s proposed MFI Bill can turn out be a double-edged sword for the industry
The proposed bill is intended to address the increasing complaints of harassment by lenders, especially in rural areas, where farmers and marginalized communities have become vulnerable to exploitative lending practices.
BUSINESS
Budget Snapshot | Agri credit target to cross Rs 28 lakh crore in this Budget, what’s in it for banks?
Banks are increasing fund flows to the agriculture sector because it’s an obligation under the rules. Under the priority sector lending (PSL) norms, banks are mandated to lend 18 percent of the adjusted net bank credit to agriculture
BUSINESS
Budget Snapshot | No pressing need to capitalise PSBs in this Budget
The RBI rules require banks to maintain a minimum Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) of 11.50%. This requirement applies to credit risk, market risk, and operational risk. As the chart shows, most PSBs have a CRAR of 16% and above
BUSINESS
RBI’s aggressive forex interventions have countered volatility, but at what cost?
Foreign exchange interventions, both spot and forward, effectively counter capital flows volatility, with symmetric effects of purchases and sales, says article by RBI researchers
BUSINESS
Budget Snapshot: Will government present a road map on bank privatisation?
Missing the large-ticket reforms in the next five years will put Indian banks one step back. Privatising India's dozen PSBs has been a tough task and an unkept promise
BUSINESS
Small lenders had it tough in 2024, will 2025 see a recovery?
It's not just a funding squeeze that's a bother for MFIs, their asset quality too has shown deterioration in 2024 and there are regulatory concerns on lending discipline
BUSINESS
Budget Snapshot: Will Budget 2025 prioritise stress resolution in banking?
An analysis by CareEdge Ratings highlights worsening delays in the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP). By September 2024, over 71% of ongoing CIRPs exceeded the 270-day completion timeframe, up from 63% in September 2022 and 67% in September 2023.
BUSINESS
Banks’ Q3 business updates: Why is credit growth slowing sharply?
Business updates of banks suggest slowdown in credit growth and rise in stress across certain categories. Do these signal suggest a deeper demand slowdown?
BUSINESS
Bank credit slowed down in 2024, but could bounce back in 2025
Overall, the data shows that bank credit marked a slowdown in the year 2024, falling to 10.6 per cent from 20.9 per cent, with only loans to industries showing a pickup.
BUSINESS
Zooming gold loans, rising defaults: What does this combo tell us about the Indian economy?
If there is rising stress at the bottom of the pyramid, such as in sensitive gold loan and microloan portfolios, the RBI should be worried. It should acknowledge the problem rather than pretending all is well in the economy.
BUSINESS
The 2025 New Year resolutions that will not be made…
It’s not just you and me—there are a few others who also want to share their big resolutions for 2025
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day | How banks' CRR liability evolved in the flexible inflation targeting era
Data shows that the FIT era freed up funds for banks enabling them to use this for productive lending purposes
BUSINESS
MPC minutes point to pro-growth lobby gaining ground
The arguments by MPC member Nagesh Kumar in favour of a rate cut were based on a pressing need to support the slowing economy with a cut in interest rates. Ram Singh too supported this view.
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day | A puzzling dichotomy is shaping up between housing prices and bank lending
The House Price Index and home loan growth trends in banks show a divergent trend
BUSINESS
Bank lending to NBFCs has dried up this year; can CRR cut turn the tide?
NBFC funding by banks may not pick up in the foreseeable future despite the liquidity infusion
BUSINESS
Will the RBI, under Malhotra, have a rethink on crypto?
The RBI and the government will be making a mistake by ignoring the latest WazirX episode in the Indian crypto market. It signals a larger problem of safety of transactions and lack of security for investor money.
BUSINESS
Chart of the Day | Even as banks turn cautious, collateral-free agriculture loans set to increase
Bank lending to agriculture segment grew by just 6.5 percent between March 2024 and October 18 compared with 10.6 percent in the comparable year-ago period as banks slowed lending
BUSINESS
Why the 50 bps CRR cut may not move the needle
If banks don’t respond to the CRR cut by passing on the excess liquidity to the borrowers through cheaper loans, the ball will be back in the RBI’s court to offer a growth stimulus post the disappointing Q2 numbers.
BUSINESS
Shaktikanta Das era ends at Mint Road — RBI governor for all seasons
Das’s six years in office saw him steering monetary policy through a pandemic bringing the world down to its knees, a banking crisis roiling the world's largest economy, two major wars and raging inflation.
BUSINESS
How the MPC just dodged a curve ball on a sticky wicket
A 50 bps CRR cut, and rates on hold is a safe play for the MPC, caught in a growth-inflation conundrum, at this point.
