Sunday 13 December 2020

13.12.2020: Today's Banking / Financial News

13.12.2020: Today's Banking / Financial News at a Glance

🍒 RBI elevates 3 CGMs : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has elevated three Chief General Managers (CGMs) as Executive Directors (EDs) with effect from December 11. R. Subramanian, Rohit Jain and R.S. Ratho are the new EDs. Following the aforementioned appointment, the central bank now has 13 EDs. As ED, Subramanian will look after Foreign Exchange Department, Financial Markets Regulation Department, Internal Debt Management and International Department. Prior to being promoted, he was CGM-in-Charge, Enforcement Department, the central bank said in a statement. Jain will look after Department of Supervision (Risk, Analytics and Vulnerability Assessment). Prior to this, he was CGM-in-Charge, Department of Supervision. Ratho will look after Financial Markets Operations Department, Department of External Investments and Operations, Legal Department and Secretary’s Department. He was CGM, Financial Markets Operations Department. - Business Line

🍒 SBI will prefer co-origination models of lending to MSMEs: Chairman : State Bank of India (SBI) will prefer the co-origination model to cater to the financing needs of MSMEs and collaboration with fintechs is a good idea as it helps in assessing the risk profile of the borrower in a better manner, its chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara said on Saturday. Pointing out that the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are constrained today in terms of cash flows, time gap in realising receivables, among others and also the level of lenders' confidence in funding them, Khara said collaborating is a better model than lending directly to MSMEs. "The fact of the matter is that today not many NBFCs have come in this space. And of late, when it comes to finding solutions, we feel that apart from lending directly to the MSMEs, there is a way forward in terms of collaborating with these NBFCs along with the biggest fintechs who have the ability to process the structured and unstructured (financial) data to have a better sense in terms of assessment of risk," Khara said. Based on that assessment, he said, bankers feel very comfortable in lending to the MSMEs. He was speaking at a webinar on financing the unfinanced organised by the Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME). - Business Standard

🍒 Central Bank of India to raise up to ₹500 crore by issuing bonds : Central Bank of India on Friday said it will raise up to ₹500 crore by issuing Basel III compliant bonds. "The capital raising committee of the board of directors of the bank at its meeting held today i.e., December 11, 2020, considered and approved the proposal for raising of capital funds up to ₹500 crore," the bank said in a regulatory filing. Central Bank of India reported over 20% rise in its net profit at ₹161 crore for the second quarter ended 30 September. The bank had posted a net profit of ₹134 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year. Its total income grew nearly 2% to ₹6,833.94 crore during July-September 2020, against ₹6,703.71 crore in the year-ago period, Central Bank of India said in a regulatory filing. - Live Mint

🍒 Big private lenders see their coffers swell : A wider network, better capital position and stronger market perception are helping larger private sector banks expand their deposit base much quicker than their smaller peers, especially the vintage private banks, showed data from Capitaline. Events at some banks and non-banks in the past one year that attracted regulatory interventions could have led to greater faith in bigger banks. For instance, deposits at HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank as on 30 September were 20% higher from a year ago, despite the two banks already having large outstanding deposits. On an absolute basis, HDFC Bank saw a growth of ₹2.07 trillion, while rival ICICI Bank’s deposits rose ₹1.36 trillion in the 12 months to September 2020, showed data from Capitaline. Other private lenders like Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank also saw their deposits rise by ₹51,496 crore and ₹28,493 crore, respectively, as on 30 September from a year earlier, the data showed. - Live Mint

🍒 YES BANK unveils premium credit card for affluent, HNIs. Features, benefits : YES BANK has recently launched Yes Private Prime Credit Card for India’s affluent and ultra High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs). The product will offer global privileges and experiences across travel, lifestyle, hospitality, dining, entertainment and wellness, the lender said. The credit card is available on the Mastercard World Elite platform. It is focused on ultra HNI consumers, offering exclusive concierge service, features and benefits that uniquely appeal to affluent cardholders. This by-invitation-only credit card provides unique customer value proposition along with a host of experiences. - Live Mint

🍒 No specific plan needed for invoking Resolution Framework: RBI : The Reserve Bank on Saturday said that borrowers opting for resolution of COVID-related stressed loans are not required to submit any specific plans. In FAQs on Resolution Framework for COVID-19 related stress, the RBI said that borrowers can invoke the resolution framework by merely submitting a request to the lending institutions. The Reserve Bank had announced a resolution framework to help the entities facing financial stress on account of disruption in normal business activity on account of coronavirus pandemic."The Resolution Framework does not require any resolution plan in any form to be submitted to the lending institutions at the time of request for invocation. Rather, for invocation, the borrowers are required to merely submit a request to the lending institutions for being considered under the Resolution Framework," the RBI said. On submission of the request, the lending institutions will take an in-principle decision - as per their Board-approved policy - on invoking the Resolution Framework, it said. - economic times

🍒 Lenders look to revive restructuring of JP Associates outside IBC : Lenders to Jaiprakash Associates Ltd are looking at a possible resolution outside the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. Sources close to the development confirmed that the consortium of lenders, led by ICICI Bank, are working on a proposal for restructuring under the RBI’s June 7 circular. The objective is to go in for timely restructuring so that lenders can get back some of their dues. Lenders are expected to submit the proposal to the RBI in the coming months as discussions are still on. “There have been previous instances also when similar discussions were started but did not fructify. Banks are now hoping that this will go through,” said a person familiar with the development, adding that public sector lenders are taking a keen interest. - Business Line

🍒 Retail loans showing some stress, but no alarm bells yet: Experts : Retail loans, the mainstay of banks, have started showing some cracks but the stress is not alarming, said executives and analysts. While a Macquarie report had pegged nonperforming assets (NPAs) in this category to double to 4 per cent from 2 per cent levels, financial institutions have stepped up their collection efficiency efforts to improve bounce rates in retail segments. The National Automated Clearing House (NACH), a clearing service for interbank transactions run by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), shows that bounce rates by volume have gone up to 40.5 per cent, and 31.1 per cent by value. These were 31 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively, in February. NACH is indicative of only a quarter of the total retail payments segment and does not reflect intrabank transactions, or those made by cash or cheque. - economic times

🍒 To cope with Covid blues, borrowers must ask lenders to invoke Resolution Framework: RBI : Borrowers are required to merely submit a request to the lending institutions for invocation of resolution under the Resolution Framework for Covid-19-related stress, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). In its frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the Resolution Framework, the central bank said the Framework does not require any resolution plan in any form to be submitted to the lending institutions at the time of request for invocation. Rather, for invocation, the borrowers are required to merely submit a request to the lending institutions for being considered under the Resolution Framework. - Business Line

🍒 Borrowers seeking debt resolution can make a request by December 31: RBI : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Saturday clarified that borrowers, seeking resolution of their bad debt under the Covid-19 stress scheme as suggested by the KV Kamath committee, need not submit a resolution plan that the lenders would evaluate, rather, they can simply request by December 31. “The Resolution Framework does not require any resolution plan in any form to be submitted to the lending institutions at the time of request for invocation," the central bank said in an update of its frequently asked question (FAQ) section on resolution framework for Covid-19 related stress. “Rather, for invocation, the borrowers are required to merely submit a request to the lending institutions for being considered under the resolution framework," After the request is submitted, the lending institutions will take an in-principle decision on invoking the resolution framework. - Business Standard

🍒 AP CM Jagan asks bankers to support welfare schemes : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has urged bankers to extend support in implementing government welfare schemes and strengthen the rural economy. Addressing the 213th State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) meeting on Friday, the Chief Minister asked the bankers to focus on doubling farmers’ income, reducing investment costs, providing proper market facilities for produce, and to support farmers at the time of natural disasters. He said the government has started various initiatives to reduce the investment cost to farmers. It has been providing financial assistance of ₹13,500 per annum through Rythu Bharosa Scheme. Fifty per cent of farmers in the State have less than half a hectare and 80 percent of investment cost to those farmers would be covered through this scheme. - Business Line

🍒 Bharti AXA Life ties up with Primero Skills to support healthcare workers amid Covid-19 pandemic : ‘GotYouCovered’ campaign, a special initiative to appreciate frontline healthcare workers who are striving to protect people from the Covid-19 pandemic. Observing the Universal Health Coverage Day promoted by the World Health Organisation, that urges all nations to provide affordable and quality healthcare to citizens, the company aims at spreading awareness of the importance of protecting life and health against all uncertainties. Bharti AXA Life Insurance has joined hands with Primero Skills & Training, a skill development organisation imparting free skills and training programmes to youth under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, to support its healthcare workers by masking them against life and health risks during the ongoing Covid pandemic. - Business Line

🍒 EXIM Bank extends LOC of $448 million to Uzbekistan : Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank), on behalf of the Government of India, has extended a Line of Credit (LOC) of $448 million to the Government of Republic of Uzbekistan. This LOC is for financing various projects in the Roads & Transport, Water and Technology & Communication sectors in Uzbekistan, Exim Bank said in a statement. With the signing of this LOC Agreement, Exim Bank has now in place 266 Lines of Credit, covering 62 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, CIS and the Oceania, with credit commitments of around $26.59 billion, available for financing exports from India. - Business Line

🍒 AIFs can leverage without limits in IFSC : GIFT City regulator IFSCA has removed several restrictions in current regulations on Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) operating in International Financial Service Centre (IFSC), providing more flexibility to offshore fund managers looking to set up funds in such centres in the country. Restrictions on leverage, creation of co-investment pools and diversification norms have been done away with by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). - Business Line

🍒 Non-banks will see asset growth only in FY22, says Crisil : Assets of India’s non-bank financiers are expected to shrink for the first time in two decades in the current financial year, rating agency Crisil said, adding an expansion is likely only in FY22. “Assuming that the current green shoots gain momentum, we expect growth to be positive for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) in the next fiscal," Gurpreet Chhatwal, president, Crisil Ratings told reporters on Friday. Crisil expects loan growth for NBFCs in FY22 to be subdued at 5-6%. Non-bank lenders, Chhatwal said, have been facing a challenging operating environment since September 2018 right after the Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) default. He said while it was expected that the situation would normalize in the early part of the current year, the onslaught of covid-19 moved the focus to asset quality and funding challenges. - Live Mint

🍒 Exim Bank extends $448-mn line of credit to Uzbekistan : Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) on Saturday said it has extended a $448-million line of credit (LOC) for various infrastructure projects in Uzbekistan. The LOC has been extended on behalf of the Indian government, Exim Bank said in a statement. With the signing of this LOC agreement, Exim Bank has now in place 266 LOCs, covering 62 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Commonwealth of Independent States and the Oceania, with credit commitments of around $26.59 billion, available for financing exports from India, it added. The LOC of $448 million to Uzbekistan has been extended for financing various projects in the roads and transport, water and technology and communication sectors in Uzbekistan. - financial express

🍒 Demand for gold loans slows down after recording a good growth in the second quarter: CSB Bank chief : The demand for gold loans has slowed down after recording a good growth in the second quarter, CSB Bank MD and chief executive CVR Rajendran said on Friday. The Thrissur based lender said its gold loan portfolio grew by Rs 1,100 crore in the second quarter, an increase of 30% quarter-on-quarter and 47% year-on-year. The RBI’s relaxation on LTV norms has helped the bank increase its gold loan portfolio, which currently accounts for 35% of the total loan book. CSB had earlier said average LTV of the gold loan portfolio is 71% and the yield on gold loans improved from 12.22% in Q1 to 12.53% during Q2, which indicates that the growth has been achieved without compromising on the yield. - financial express

🍒 Pandemic fast-tracked India’s digitisation march, says NPCI COO; acceptance of UPI increasing : India’s march towards digitisation of its payment landscape has been fast-tracked during the coronavirus pandemic, said Praveena Rai, Chief Operating Officer, National Payments Corporation of India’s (NPCI) on Saturday. The COO of the umbrella body for retail payment and settlements in India said that the pace of digitisation of India has also increased due to the regulatory framework and policies of the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), new agency PTI reported. NPCI is an initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. “Digitisation has revolutionized every single aspect of life and onboarding has risen substantially. There has been gradual migration from cash to digital payments both offline and online”, Praveena Rai said. The COO of NPCI was speaking at a seminar organised by Xavier School of Management. She added that digitisation has cut across all sections of the society. Praveen Rai further added that there has been a rise in digital engagements by giving reward programmes to customers. According to her, digitisation is also driving a habit of savings among the customers which is also leading to financial inclusion in the country. The NPCI COO said that now people, consumers and merchants are preferring to go digital, adding that there also has been a big growth in UPI driven by acceptance of QR. - financial express

🍒 Investments via SIPs dive to 30-month low : Many retail investors have preferred to use Systematic Investment Plans (SIP) to invest in mutual funds over the last six years, resulting in sustained growth in monthly investments. But the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the inflow, which has declined gradually since this April. The monthly SIP investment of ₹7,302 crore in November 2020 was the lowest since May 2018. SIPs in mutual funds are preferred by retail investors who invest a fixed sum at regular intervals, in the scheme of their choice, thus imbibing discipline in their investment process. But the monthly investments since May 2020 have been lower compared to the corresponding month in the previous year. This gap expanded to 11.74 per cent in November this year. - Business Line

🍒 Gold prices rise to Rs 49,290 per 10 gram, outlook bearish : Gold prices edged higher to settle at Rs 49,290 per 10 gram on December 11 as participants trimmed their long position as seen by the open interest. The precious metal ended the week with a marginal loss of 0.14 percent for the week. The rate of 10 gram 22-carat gold in Mumbai was Rs 44,926 plus 3 percent GST, while 24-carat 10 gram was Rs 49,046 plus GST. The 18-carat gold quoted at Rs 36,785 plus GST in the retail market. Silver prices fell Rs 368 to Rs 62,232 per kg from its closing on December 11.

🍒 Small & Midcaps underperform: Only 34 stocks in BSE 500 rose 10-40% this week : It was a historic week for Indian markets as both Sensex and Nifty50 hit fresh record highs and climbed crucial milestone levels. The S&P BSE Sensex climbed Mount 46K while the Nifty50 rose above 13,500 for the first time. As benchmark indices hit fresh record highs, small & midcaps underperformed in the week gone by but there were more than 30 stocks that rose 10-40 percent in the same period. The S&P BSE Sensex rallied 2.2 percent while the Nifty50 was up 1.9 percent for the week ended December 11. Meanwhile, there was 0.7 percent rise seen in the S&P BSE Midcap index, and about 1.3 percent growth recorded in the S&P BSE Smallcap index in the same period. There are as many as 34 stocks in the BSE 500 index that rose 10-40 percent. These include MMTC, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Vedanta, Punjab National Bank, Shoppers Stop, Wockhardt, IFCI, and PC Jeweller.

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