Aathira Varier

Banks may rejig insurance sales as Irdai proposes sharp commission cuts

Banks could favour long-term products that offer better commissions, while seeking to offset lower payouts elsewhere through higher volumes

Irdai's proposed commission cuts threaten PB Fintech's online economics

Analysts say PB Fintech's core online insurance revenue could take a nearly 30 per cent hit, though cost optimisation and higher volumes could cushion the impact

Irdai commission caps may weigh on insurance fee income of banks, NBFCs

Lenders with multiple insurer tie-ups and incentive-led payouts could face a sharper impact, while L&T Finance is seen as the most exposed among NBFCs

Irdai's fee cap proposal rattles distributors; insurance stocks tumble

Irdai's proposed commission caps could hit distributor incomes, with banks and NBFCs facing pressure from lower payouts on insurance products

PB Fintech may explore new business options after Irdai commission cuts

PB Fintech may explore manufacturing insurance products by seeking a licence as it assesses the impact of Irdai's proposed commission cuts on its distribution business

Irdai's proposed distribution reforms may disrupt insurance growth

Proposed commission cuts could trigger broker consolidation and squeeze bancassurance, while tighter expense limits may put additional pressure on smaller insurers

Credit card spends fall 2.8% to ₹2.02 trillion in August, shows RBI data

Credit card spending fell to Rs 2.02 trillion in August as online spends declined 7 per cent, while the number of outstanding cards rose to 124.05 million

Insurance distributors bleed as Irdai proposes sharp commission cuts

PB Fintech plunged 36 per cent and Turtlemint fell 20 per cent as analysts warned proposed commission cuts in health, term and motor insurance could hit earnings

Govt sets riders for funds to three stressed PSU general insurers

Calls for underwriting overhaul, performance-linked talent management

Three-day PSU bank strike may dent life insurers' September sales by 10-15%

A three-day public sector bank strike at the end of September could reduce life insurers' business through the bancassurance channel by 10-15 per cent, industry officials say

Financial sector has reinforced growth momentum: SBI Chairman C S Setty

SBI Chairman C S Setty says stronger bank profitability, credit demand and asset quality give the sector greater capacity to support investment and India's next stage of growth

Irdai proposes tighter expense limits, new commission caps for insurers

The regulator proposes phased cuts to insurers' expense limits, new commission caps and a ban on compulsory bundling of insurance with loans to lower costs and curb mis-selling

MSME lending may reach ₹2.6 trillion in July-December 2026: FlexiLoans

FlexiLoans expects lending to small businesses to reach Rs 2.4-2.6 trillion in July-December 2026, driven by festive demand and growing digital commerce in non-metro markets

GST cut lifts insurance demand, expands customer base, boosts coverage

Insurers and distributors have seen higher policy purchases and coverage levels since the GST exemption, though the initial surge in demand has moderated from a higher base

Property insurance rates up as insurers cut discounts after Gujarat floods

Premium rates are hardening by nearly 25-30 per cent, mainly through a reduction in discounts, according to Bajaj General Insurance

India's outbound FDI rises 23.3% to $3.8 billion in August: RBI data

Outbound equity FDI commitments rose to $1.14 billion in August, while guarantees for overseas units increased to $2.23 billion from $1.2 billion a year earlier

In the age of UPI, cash still going strong as circulation growth picks up

Cash in circulation rises 12.5% as UPI grows, raising concerns that MDR could slow the shift to digital payments

ICICI Pru MF, SBI MF corner more than half of LIC's ₹31,552 crore OFS

ICICI Prudential MF and SBI MF together bought over half of LIC's ₹31,552-crore OFS, sharply raising mutual funds' holding in the insurer

Long-term insurance policies need tax incentives: ICICI Pru's Anup Bagchi

ICICI Prudential Life CEO Anup Bagchi says tax incentives for policies of 10 years or more could help insurers build stable liability pools for infrastructure investment.

Insurance stocks gain on expectations of lower distributor commissions

Life and general insurance shares gained amid expectations that Irdai could lower commissions paid to distributors, particularly banks, potentially reducing distribution costs.