The asset quality of microfinance portfolios worsened in the quarter ending June 2024 due to the impact of heatwaves on borrowers' incomes and collections, coupled with rumours of loan waivers, according to Sa-Dhan. Jiji Mammen, executive director and chief executive officer of Sa-Dhan, said loans with 90+ days past due (dpd) rose to 1.2 per cent in June 2024, compared to 0.9 per cent in June 2023. The 90+ dpd also increased from 1.16 per cent in March 2024.
Banks are likely to see their net interest margins (NIM) - broadly the difference between interest earned on loans and paid on deposits - shrink by another 30 basis points (bps) over the next few quarters. After hitting a peak of 3.3 per cent in the third quarter (Q3) of the financial year ended March 31, 2023 (FY23), NIMs have been on a downward trajectory, touching 3.13 per cent in Q2FY24 on higher cost of funds, according to capital markets firm CARE Ratings. Banks are still grappling with the Reserve Bank of India's policy rate increases - that have made deposits costlier as the interest payable to customers has increased - and the regulatory actions on unsecured lending.
Listed housing finance companies (HFCs), as a group, posted a 3.7 per cent drop in second-quarter (Q2) profit year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 5,830 crore and 19 per cent sequentially on rise in interest expenses and uptick in provisions and write-offs. Operating income rose 13.7 per cent YoY to Rs 54,086 crore in Q2 of 2022-23 (FY23). Sequentially, income was up 62.3 per cent, from Rs 33,331 crore in the first quarter (Q1) of 2021-22 (FY22).
State Bank of India (SBI) is willing to work with Russian banks not facing sanctions and remain on the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) network to open a special rupee vostro account (SRVA) for invoicing in Indian currency. The country's largest lender in a statement said it has not been identified as the nodal bank for handling Russia-related transactions. In July, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed banks in India, including SBI, to open an SRVA to promote invoicing in Indian rupee, subject to certain safeguards. Accordingly, the bank in a statement said it is "making necessary arrangements and processing requests received from various banks, including Russian banks", following guidelines laid out by the RBI.
After Chanda and Deepak Kochchar, the Kudvas are the second power couple in the financial world to come under the regulatory glare.
'The book captures Rana Kapoor's hunger for real estate leading to bungalows in Delhi, Mumbai, London and other cities; the multiple companies -- over 100 -- to fund his family's various ventures; the attempt to game the system by showing lower non-performing assets,' notes Joydeep Ghosh.
These are untied loans, meaning SBI has freedom to use this money to lend. They also do not come with any conditions attached for lending to specific projects or programmes.
Such attempts had risen sharply right before pandemic and early part of pandemic by 121 per cent.
The recent circular follows the 'true-to-label' concept, but large funds in the multi-cap category may be forced to merge in the absence of sufficient small-cap options.
With real estate valuations falling and other deals coming unstuck, the current management's improved target faces significant challenges.
'Banks have to be braver, willing to take more risks and give confidence to the customer,' observes Joydeep Ghosh.
Tax experts said that in FY17 around 80,000 people had reported incomes of over Rs 1 crore
Besides 15 loan transactions to the Siva group of companies, the former directors also used unique methods to ensure the group did not get into the default list.
Almost 2,000 companies whose private provident and pension funds have invested in non-convertible debentures of IL&FS group firms are staring at the prospect of booking losses to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore or more if the interest income is added.
According to industry players, over 50 FMPs have exposure to Zee Group companies.
The elections held in April-May 2019 will be an important determinant of future growth and investment.
They have cited higher capital for bad-loan provisioning, pending legislative amendments, and delay in finalising rules by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as some of the reasons.
When you buy a stock, especially a mid- and small-cap one, have a price target. Once you hit the target, exit the stock, advises Joydeep Ghosh.
Linking all new floating rate loans to an external benchmark won't impact existing borrowers, so customers who have taken long-term home loans recently should watch things carefully, say Joydeep Ghosh and Sanjay Kumar Singh.
'In the short-term, the markets may be affected' by the review but 'it will help address what they are worried about which is why we need transparency,' says former chief economic advisor.