BUSINESS
Our focus is tier II, III cities that generate 70% of business: ABHI CEO Mayank Bathwal
Health insurance may have to be made mandatory, especially if current efforts, including industry collaboration and government initiatives, fail to increase adoption, he says
BUSINESS
IRDAI to expand distribution framework, eyes embedded insurance boom
Expanding sales avenues will enable insurers to enhance accessibility and cater to a more diverse consumer base, Bathwal says
BUSINESS
Insurers reluctant to launch IPOs amid RBC implementation and stake dilution concerns
According to sources, shareholders of unlisted insurance companies do not want to go public till they see a valid case for valuations to increase or the need for capital raise to be compelling enough.
BUSINESS
NBFCs cheer RBI's move to reverse higher risk weights, but analysts don't see aggressive lending just yet
Analysts at Motilal Oswal Financial Services estimated that banks in their coverage universe could see an increase of 20–250 bps in CET-1 capital ratios due to the policy shift
BUSINESS
Insurers say proposed 1-year free-look period could lead to financial setback for industry
The extended FLP will empower policyholders by giving them more time to assess their policies but will lead to financial setbacks for them, say insurers
BUSINESS
Manian wants Federal Bank to be among India’s top five private lenders
Execution remains key, say analysts as Federal Bank targets to move up several notches from its current no. 9 spot to among the top five private banks under the leadership of K V S Manian by FY28
BUSINESS
Regulated entities must develop capabilities to comply with evolving rules: RBI deputy guv
The ultimate challenge is to build a financial ecosystem that is both balanced and resilient, Rao said
BUSINESS
New BIMA-ASBA framework could declutter unclaimed amounts with insurance companies
The new guidelines effective from March 1, 2025, state that only the necessary premium amount will be blocked and debited once the policy is issued.
BUSINESS
Our primary focus is to remain on protection biz, says ACKO Life's CEO Sandip Goenka
We’ll continue to focus on protection, mainly term insurance, while also planning to develop pensions and annuities to tackle longevity risk before shifting to savings, Goenka says
BUSINESS
Fire insurance premiums could surge 60% in 2025
This hike could be anticipated amid an 80 percent property rate in January, 2025, which was aimed to restore solvency after a period of aggressive discounting, aimed at maintaining solvency, according to industry analysts
BUSINESS
Axis Max Life aims to dial back ULIP exposure amid margin decline
Product mix shift, high ULIP sales, and new surrender norms impacted margins by 4 percent, said CFO Amrit Singh in an interaction
BUSINESS
Explainer: The DICGC as a safety net in the New India Co-operative bank crisis
The DICGC acts as a crucial safeguard in this scenario, ensuring that depositors of the New India Co-operative Bank are not left entirely out of pocket
BUSINESS
Explained: Why your cost of loan has not reduced despite a repo cut
The actual impact depends on several factors, including the type of loan you have and the interest rates are determined
BUSINESS
Health insurance dominates non-life with 40% share despite slow growth, while motor at 29.3% despite being mandatory
A critical issue for motor insurance is the high percentage of uninsured vehicles because of non-compliance with mandatory insurance laws," says Galaxy Health Insurance CEO
BUSINESS
Non-life insurance sector grows 6.58% in Jan 2025; Health insurers lead with 17.76% surge
In terms of market dynamics, general insurance maintained an 84.65 percent share of the total premiums for January 2025, with health insurers capturing 11.72 percent and specialised insurers at 3.63 percent
BUSINESS
Life insurance premiums drop 8% in Jan 2025; PNB MetLife, Godigit shine amidst LIC’s decline
Life insurance sector is facing sustained headwinds, with both LIC and private insurers experiencing challenges in premium growth
BUSINESS
Explained | Open architecture in insurance: Push for choice, debate on impact, and industry's stance
While this proposal aims to enhance consumer choice and potentially drive competition, reports have surfaced indicating that major companies oppose the open architecture model for individual agents
BUSINESS
LIC evaluating stake in health insurer, deal unlikely in FY25: CEO
Factors such as regulatory approvals and valuation will take time, says Mohanty
BUSINESS
RBI's repo rate cut welcomed by bank leaders, expected to ensure liquidity while monitoring inflation
However, some banks acknowledged the short-term impact on their profitability, with expectations of eventual recovery
BUSINESS
RBI cuts repo rate by 25 bps to 6.25%, Deposit rate transmission to take two quarters
The Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate remains unchanged at 6.5 percent, as do the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) and bank rates, indicating a cautious yet accommodative monetary policy stance, says RBI Guv
BUSINESS
RBI to introduce new guidelines on conduct of banks to tackle the issue of mis-selling
This move comes as part of an effort to curb practices that lead to consumer detriment and to ensure a level playing field in the financial services sector, he said.
BUSINESS
RBI has reduced inflation forecast for FY26, FY25 forecast remains unchanged
Malhotra projected the retail inflation at 4.2 percent for next financial year beginning April while retaining the forecast for 2025 at 4.8 per cent
BUSINESS
Insurance companies see no benefit from open architecture; Leaders cite unemployment, mis-selling concerns
Moreover, companies have not seen much success with the open architecture model
BUSINESS
Centre's ULIP tax clarification may push insurers, policyholders towards new products
While ULIP sales have significantly driven premium growth for private insurers, a downturn in market stability typically leads to reduced demand for ULIPs, with effects usually seen nine to twelve months later
