'Depositories can hold FII securities as collateral'

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed clearing corporations of exchanges to keep collateral securities of foreign institutional investors (FIIs) in demat accounts of overseas depositories and dispose it when needed.

FIIs can offer foreign sovereign securities with AAA rating as collateral to recognised stock exchanges in India for their transactions in the derivatives segment.

A circular issued by RBI said that with a view to further liberalise the procedure, it has been decided in consultation with the central goverment and Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to permit Sebi-approved clearing corporations of stock exchanges and their clearing members to open and maintain demat accounts with foreign depositories, and:

* acquire, hold, pledge and  transfer the foreign sovereign securities offered as collateral by FIIs;

* clearing corporations can also remit the proceeds arising from corporate action, if any, on such foreign sovereign securities;

* liquidate such foreign sovereign securities if the need arises.

"Clearing corporations shall report, on a monthly basis, the balances of foreign sovereign securities held by them as non-cash collaterals of their clearing members to the  Reserve Bank of India," the notification said.

According to a report by Reuters, analysts said it appeared to be a move to ease some upward pressure on the rupee that would also make it easier for foreign investors as they can now use foreign bonds rather than cash as collateral. "If the margining requirement goes up or more collateral was needed, foreigners had to bring in more dollars, which, in turn, leads to more appreciation pressure," an analyst said.

The rupee was quoted at 40.31/32 today, just below the nine-year high of 40.28 per dollar hit in May.