Low interest rates dent RBI's overseas income

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) income for 2009-10 fell 45.85 per cent to Rs 32,884.14 crore, from Rs 60,731.98 crore a year ago, due to low interest income from foreign currency assets.

The surplus transferable to the government dipped to Rs 18,759 crore from Rs 25,009 crore last year. The earnings from foreign currency assets and gold declined 50.58 per cent to Rs 25,102.55 crore from Rs 50,796.21 crore in 2008-09.

The dip in earnings was due to lower yield on foreign securities and interest on balances held abroad, due to a low interest rate environment. RBI Deputy Governor Shyamala Gopinath said returns had been low due to near-zero interest rates in the international market. The rate of earning on foreign sources plummeted to 2.09 per cent from 4.16 per cent in the previous year.

RBI parks foreign exchange reserves in high-rated bonds and deposits. It follows three principles — safety, liquidity and returns while deploying reserves abroad. The safety got first priority, Gopinath said.

RBI changed its accounting policy for valuation of securities. Under the revised policy, the change in value (due to appreciation or depreciation) of securities is booked as a balance-sheet item. Earlier, depreciation was booked to the profit and loss account, while appreciation was ignored.

RBI’s earnings from domestic sources also took a blow. They declined from Rs 9,935.77 crore to Rs 7,781.59 crore due to an increase in the coupon income from a larger portfolio of government securities and a decrease in the depreciation on securities.

An increase in net interest outgo under the liquidity adjustment facility, a drop in interest earnings on loans and profits from sale of securities also put pressure on the domestic income of the bank. The central bank’s expenditure, comprising establishment costs, agency charges and security printing charges (arising from performing statutory function), rose 2.25 per cent from Rs 8,217.88 crore in 2008-09 to Rs 8,403.12 crore.

Its establishment expenditure was down due to lower provision for long-term employee benefits. These benefits are calculated on the basis of actuarial valuation.