Tide is turning for bonds after RBI’s liquidity bonanza

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By Kartik Goyal India’s sovereign bonds are turning a corner as a supply overhang dissipates following a raft of liquidity measures from the central bank. Early signs of economic revival are also spurring hopes of an improvement in government finances. The yield on India’s benchmark 10-year bond fell about 13 basis points over the past … Read more

Rate cuts beyond a point could be counter-productive: Report

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Policy rates cannot dip below a threshold, beyond which a rate cut could be counter-productive and lead to an economic contraction rather than stimulating it, according to a research report by SBI economists. They further said that lowering policy rates below 3.5% could be counterproductive and recommended an activist fiscal policy going forward. The report … Read more

Centre suggests state governments to borrow Rs 2.35 lakh crore to meet tax shortfall

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NEW DELHI: Union government on Thursday suggested states borrow up to Rs 2.35 lakh crore ($31.8 billion) from the market to meet a tax shortfall, a top finance ministry official said. The federal government could also support the states to raise up to Rs 97,000 crore in loans from the central bank at a lower … Read more

RBI’s June dollar purchases hit 4-year high

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Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India‘s US dollar purchases in June was at a four-year high for any month. Economists said the central bank is building a war chest of reserves to prevent any adverse impact on the rupee amid the Covid-19 crisis. The central bank bought $14.8 billion from the spot currency market in … Read more

Debt revamp proposal to prolong Indian banks’ asset quality uncertainty: Fitch

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MUMBAI: A one-time debt restructuring allowed by India’s central bank to help lenders and borrowers amid the COVID-19 pandemic will prolong uncertainty about the banking sector’s asset quality, Fitch Ratings said on Tuesday. India’s central bank said last week it will allow restructuring of corporate and personal loans to ease debt strains on companies and … Read more