Reserve Bank of India (RBI) relaxed the norms for categorising priority sector lending of commercial banks to microfinance institutions (MFIs). According to the present norms, banks can categorise credit extended to MFIs as priority sector lending if
if at least 75 per cent of loans given by MFIs is for income generating activity. Now, the central bank relaxed this limit to at least 70 per cent. Thus, according to the relaxed norm, bank credi
Tag: bank
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RBI relaxes norms for bank credit to MFIs
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Lenders approve restructuring of Electrosteels’ debt
Kolkata-based Electrosteel Steels, which produces DI pipes and casting, may not have much difficulty in restructuring its Rs 7,000 crore loan as the consortium of 27 lenders are open to recast it provided some conditions are fulfilled. The firm produces and supplies ductile iron (DI) pipes and fittings and is three-star export house. It was the first domestic company to set up a ductile iron pipe plant apart from pioneering manufacture of alloy steel cast
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ICICI Bank issues Chinese currency bonds
ICICI Bank raised Chinese Yuan (Renminbi) 650 million ($106 million) by issuing bonds in the currency at a coupon rate of 4 per cent. The bond, which will be listed on the Singapore exchange, have been issued under the bank’s $5 billion Medium Term Note (MTN) programme. ICICI Bank is the second domestic lender to sell bonds to offshore Chinese investors. Earlier, IDBI Bank had tapped this fund-raising route. Rating agency S&P has given a ‘BBB
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NPAs of state-run banks rise in FY13
Owing to high interest rate and slowdown in the economy, non performing assets (NPAs) with the public sector banks (PSBs) rose about 90 basis points year-on-year during 2012-13. However, their peers in the private sector managed to avoid rise in NPAs because of better risk management and low exposure to risky
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PFC to acquire stake in state-run bank
Satnam Singh, Managing Director of Power Finance Corp (PFC) plans to buy a substantial stake in a public sector unit (PSU) bank that would allow it to have a representation at the board level. A month ago, PFC informed its intention to acquire stake in state-run bank to the power and the finance ministries
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RBI to continue purchase of govt bonds
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) continues to purchase government bonds through the open market operation (OMO) in order to ease liquidity constraint in the banking system. This was hinted by Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram when he said the government doesn't think the central bank has slowed the pace of its bond purchase programme
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RBI to increase forex reserves by buying dollar
Data released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shows the central bank bought $820 million dollar more than it sold in March, the first net purchase since 2010. This shows that RBI wants to increase its forex reserves by taking advantage of the rise in foreign fund flows in the equity and debt market in the country. A report by Bank of America Merrill Lynch estimates that the central bank has bought $1 billion since March and may buy an additional $8 billion through March
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RBI may switch to CPI to index proposed IIBs
In a conference call with market participants, officials of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) clarified several issues on the proposed auction of Inflation Indexed Bonds (IIBs), which is scheduled on June 4. One of the remarkable information that the officials shares is that the central bank may use Consumer Price Index (CPI) as a benchmark for these bonds once the CPI stabilises
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NHB chief rules out need for unified regulator
RV Verma, Chairman and Managing Director of National Housing Bank (NHB) ruled out the need for a unified regulator for banks and housing finance companies (HFCs). He said there is no need for a single regulator for banks and HFCs as there is not regulatory arbitrage as pointed out by SBI Chairman Pratip Chaudhuri
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India Post’s banking dream gets thumbs down from govt
Unconfirmed reports indicate that the union finance ministry opposes the proposal of India Port to foray into banking venture. Officials of the finance ministry raised doubt about the ability of India Post to conduct banking business. It may be recalled that India Post plans to apply for a banking license from