RBI eases liquidity, cuts MSF rate by 50 bps to 9%

Moneycontrol Bureau

In a surprise move, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate by 50 bps to 9 percent from 9.5 percent with immediate effect. The MSF cut will ease short-term rates and companies are likely to borrow from the commercial paper (CP) market instead of banks.

The move is part of the calibrated withdrawal of exceptional measures undertaken by the apex bank and is aimed at improving liquidity in the system. The RBI's 200 bps increase in the MSF rate in July had tightened short-term market liquidity.

In its mid-quarter review of September 2013, the RBI had cut MSF by 75 basis points from 10.25 percent to 9.5 percent.

It has been decided that the central bank will provide additional liquidity through term repos of 7-day and 14-day tenor for a notified amount equivalent to 0.25 percent of net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) of the banking system through variable rate auctions every Friday beginning October 11, 2013. The notified amount and tenor of the term repo auctions will be announced prior to the dates of the auctions.

The move is likely to help banks and NBFCs once the market opens for trade tomorrow. On Monday, the RBI conducted open market purchase operations of Rs 9,974 crore to inject liquidity into the system.