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Dinesh Unnikrishnan

Editor-Banking & Finance

Moneycontrol

Editor-Banking & Finance at Moneycontrol. Dinesh heads the Banking and Finance Bureau at Moneycontrol. He also writes a weekly column, Banking Central, every Monday.

Non-banks turn to money markets as funding channels dry up after RBI nudge

BUSINESS

Non-banks turn to money markets as funding channels dry up after RBI nudge

Even after this shift bank funding remains the biggest source. NBFCs borrow from banks to then lend to borrowers at a margin

Banks have a new-found love for industries. Sign of a reviving economy?

BUSINESS

Banks have a new-found love for industries. Sign of a reviving economy?

The shift in lending patterns is indicative of critical undercurrents in the economy. Money typically flows more to segments where economic activity is strengthening

Toxic work culture: How to stop product misselling in banks

BUSINESS

Toxic work culture: How to stop product misselling in banks

We know the work culture in banks isn’t the best, but what is the solution? Here are five ways to address the problem of product misselling and toxic work culture in banks.

High gold prices spur growth in loans against jewellery; is there a risk build-up here?

BUSINESS

High gold prices spur growth in loans against jewellery; is there a risk build-up here?

Gold prices have escalated in recent years and are up by 25.96 percent year-over-year. This makes the yellow metal a more valuable commodity for banks to give loans against.

Chart of the Day | RBI’s pill worked well to cure NBFC exuberance in unsecured loans, show data

BUSINESS

Chart of the Day | RBI’s pill worked well to cure NBFC exuberance in unsecured loans, show data

The RBI data shows that overall, in line with the banking sector, NBFCs too have decreased the exposure to unsecured loans following the regulatory caution

Did banks do a good job of passing on RBI rate hikes? Here’s what the data show

BUSINESS

Did banks do a good job of passing on RBI rate hikes? Here’s what the data show

The past two years have seen RBI increase repo rates by 250 bps. Data on transmission across bank groups show that increase in lending rates was higher in the case of private banks than among public sector banks. However, in the case of deposits, transmission was higher for PSBs

What will be the impact on banks if RBI does a Fed?

BUSINESS

What will be the impact on banks if RBI does a Fed?

An RBI rate cut could put near-term stress on banks’ margins but will augur well for asset quality

Is RBI’s close scrutiny of NBFC books linked to fast growing unsecured personal loans?

BUSINESS

Is RBI’s close scrutiny of NBFC books linked to fast growing unsecured personal loans?

There has been strong growth in unsecured personal loan disbursals in the books of NBFCs vis-à-vis banks. These are high-risk loans that could cause problems down the road

Will the regulator have a rethink on the P2P lending industry?

BUSINESS

Will the regulator have a rethink on the P2P lending industry?

The biggest problem with the P2P players is that time is not on their side for a course correction. Most of these companies are backed by equity investors who aren’t known for their patience.

More bad news likely for PSBs from potential agri-loan stress

BUSINESS

More bad news likely for PSBs from potential agri-loan stress

Recent announcements of farm loan waivers and the likelihood of more in the run-up to elections in the next 18 months could trigger the risk of loan waivers for state-owned banks

Chart of the Day | Are banks betting too much on renewable energy sector too soon?

BUSINESS

Chart of the Day | Are banks betting too much on renewable energy sector too soon?

Bank lending to renewable energy has galloped in the last two years. There are clear upside risks to this exposure that needs to be closely watched

Why are young bankers leaving the profession so soon?

BUSINESS

Why are young bankers leaving the profession so soon?

Targets are given to bank employees to sell insurance products along with core banking products. Mounting pressure can create havoc as it leads to misselling or forced selling of products

Banks are left nearly bald after IBC haircuts; what's the cure?

BUSINESS

Banks are left nearly bald after IBC haircuts; what's the cure?

The recovery track record of banks in the insolvency process has been poor. Losses incurred in corporate lending imply big sacrifices made by shareholders.

For India’s big banks, small is not beautiful in the NBFC lending market

BUSINESS

For India’s big banks, small is not beautiful in the NBFC lending market

Data shows banks are now very selective in funding NBFCs; only top-rated NBFCs get loans at relatively lower rates. Borrowers rated AA and below are struggling to access bank credit

Are Indian MFIs pushing too much credit to the borrower?

BUSINESS

Are Indian MFIs pushing too much credit to the borrower?

There are signs of overheating in some pockets of the industry, signalling build-up of potential stress. It is time for the industry to recall the lessons of the 2010 crisis and do a course correction

Shifting goal posts on inflation targeting will be unfair to India's poor households

BUSINESS

Shifting goal posts on inflation targeting will be unfair to India's poor households

For the average Indian, inflation essentially means prices of most consumed food and vegetable items.

ULI can make the credit process quicker; the tricky part is recovery

BUSINESS

ULI can make the credit process quicker; the tricky part is recovery

Technology platforms, as envisaged by the RBI, can smoothen the credit process and cut time delays. The difficult part is recovering the small loans

On real rate debate, the gloves are off in the near-expiry MPC

BUSINESS

On real rate debate, the gloves are off in the near-expiry MPC

As both Varma and Goyal argued, holding interest rates too high for too long can hurt economic growth. But Das and Patra warn that lowering the guard on inflation too early too can be a mistake.

Interview | MPC member Jayanth Varma warns high real interest rates can depress private investment, suppress demand

BUSINESS

Interview | MPC member Jayanth Varma warns high real interest rates can depress private investment, suppress demand

Varma has been cautioning that keeping interest rates too high for too long can hamper growth

Chart of the Day | What does the core inflation pattern tell us?

BUSINESS

Chart of the Day | What does the core inflation pattern tell us?

The consistent decline in core inflation in the last one and a half years amid the strong growth momentum is bit unusual and may correct going ahead.

Not only senior citizens, but all bank depositors have the right to full insurance cover

BUSINESS

Not only senior citizens, but all bank depositors have the right to full insurance cover

Rising bank failures, especially among the coop banks, have created a trust deficit among depositors. Increasing the insurance cover can help partly address the problem

Can banks hit the jackpot as private capex heads for Goldilocks zone in FY25?

BUSINESS

Can banks hit the jackpot as private capex heads for Goldilocks zone in FY25?

An article by RBI staff published in the August bulletin projects a significant pick-up in private investments in 2024-25 backed by rising demand and cleaner books of companies, banks. Will banks benefit from this growth?

Indian P2P players should learn from Chinese debacle, RBI has just pressed a warning button

BUSINESS

Indian P2P players should learn from Chinese debacle, RBI has just pressed a warning button

Typically, the banking regulator issues mild warnings to the industry before actual clampdown. P2P lenders need to read the signals now

Last mile of disinflation is an unfinished job for near expiry MPC

BUSINESS

Last mile of disinflation is an unfinished job for near expiry MPC

While the MPC has managed to bring inflation within the 6% upper band, comfortably landing at the 4% medium-target remains a work in progress

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