Aathira Varier

Axis Bank Q2 net profit rises 38% to ₹7,003 crore as provisions fall

Net interest income grew 12 per cent to Rs 15,371 crore, while provisions fell 52 per cent and gross NPA ratio improved to 1.16 per cent

L&T Finance cautious on rural loans amid weather risks, eyes urban growth

The NBFC expects loan-book growth of over 20 per cent in H2FY27, driven by urban finance and festive demand, while monitoring crop output, rural liquidity and weather-related risks

Federal Bank net profit surges 45% to record ₹1,386 crore on higher NII

The private sector lender reported a 26.4% rise in net interest income, a 26-basis-point expansion in margins and improved asset quality, with gross advances crossing Rs 3 trillion

Global investors firm India BFSI bets with over $20 bn in deals since 2025

Major investments by Fairfax, MUFG, SMBC and Emirates NBD lead a wave of foreign capital commitments across India's banking, NBFC and insurance sectors amid regulatory reforms and strong credit demand

Irdai's proposed distribution reforms aim for orderly transition: Ajay Seth

Irdai chief Ajay Seth says distribution reforms aim to improve efficiency without disrupting existing business models; Public Insurance Registry beta is due by January 2028

IDBI Bank acquisition puts Fairfax's CSB Bank stake at a crossroads

Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., led by Canadian billionaire Prem Watsa, is set to acquire nearly 61 per cent stake in IDBI Bank for $5.6 billion, marking the largest foreign investment in banks

IDBI Bank deal to bolster Fairfax's India financial services play further

Separately, Fairfax, through FAL Corporation, held a 65 per cent stake in Valueattics Re, India's first privately owned domestic reinsurer, as of March 2026

ICICI Lombard Q2FY27 net profit up 15.5% at ₹946 crore on income growth

ICICI Lombard's Q2FY27 net profit rose to Rs 946.4 crore on premium and investment income growth, while underwriting losses widened and the combined ratio reached 107 per cent.

Average car loan size jumps 49% in 7 years as buyers shift to SUVs

TransUnion CIBIL data shows average passenger-vehicle loan sizes rose 49 per cent between H1 2019 and H1 2026, while repayment tenures increased by five months to 62 months

ICICI Life Insurance's profit up 25% at ₹374 cr on higher premium income

The insurer's net premium income rose 16.56 per cent to Rs 13,804 crore in Q2FY27, while value of new business grew 20.3 per cent to Rs 712 crore, with margins improving

Securitisation volume hits record ₹1.47 trillion in H1 FY27: ICRA

Gold loan securitisation and a recovery in vehicle loan transactions drove a 42 per cent rise in volumes, with ICRA projecting a record Rs 2.6-2.7 trillion for FY27

CreditAccess Grameen raises $175 million via syndicated social loan

The microfinance lender secured funding from 10 financial institutions across Asia, the Middle East and Africa to diversify borrowing sources and optimise funding costs.

Regulatory headwinds may cloud dealmaking in a buzzing insurance sector

Insurers and distributors have warned that the changes could constrain near-term growth, hit distributor revenues and affect employment

Life insurers' profitability in Q2FY27 to improve on protection growth

Retail protection growth and a favourable product mix are expected to support life insurers' Q2FY27 profitability, while higher claims ratios could weigh on general insurers.

Proposed distribution reforms may weigh on near-term growth: Icra

ICRA expects the impact of proposed commission caps and expense limits to become more visible in FY28, with health and life insurers and smaller players facing greater pressure

Life insurance NBP jumped 21% in Sepember; non-life premium up 6%

LIC and private life insurers drive strong new business premium growth, while general and health insurers lift non-life premiums despite a sharp decline in crop insurance collections

GST Council allows employers to claim ITC on group insurance coverage

The GST Council's decision to allow input tax credit on employee group health and life insurance is expected to reduce coverage costs for employers, particularly MSMEs

RBI to firm up views on Irdai's proposed insurance commission overhaul

Governor Sanjay Malhotra says the RBI will submit comments on Irdai's draft commission framework, which proposes product-level caps and lower management expense limits

NBFC credit grows 15.8% in August, trails banks; gold loans surge 69%

NBFC retail credit grew 22 per cent year-on-year to ₹26.48 trillion in August, led by a 69.1 per cent surge in gold loans, while overall credit growth lagged banks

Irdai distribution overhaul could hit brokers' revenue by 70%: IBAI

Insurance brokers have sought a deeper assessment of Irdai's proposed distribution reforms, warning of a 60-70 per cent revenue impact and around 1 million jobs at risk