Q4 results: Top public sector banks to report losses in March quarter

Tepid loan growth and higher credit cost to weigh on earnings at private corporate lenders

The January-March quarter, the fourth and final one (Q4) of 2017-18, is unlikely to be a pleasant one for the top public sector banks (PSBs).

They are now weighed down by frauds, the new rules from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on non-performing assets (NPAs), fluctuation in bond yields and the fluctuating developments in cases before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

Three major PSBs — State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Bank of India (BOI) — would report losses in Q4. The net profit of Bank of Baroda and of private corporate lenders (PCLs)