Page 2 - Anupreksha Jain

RBI proposes new BC structure and branch norms in draft guidelines

RBI's draft norms revamp BC structure, tighten branch rules, and aim to expand banking access while strengthening governance and consumer protection

Bank margins to stay under pressure; recovery seen from FY27: Ambit

Deposit competition, liquidity pressures and shifting household savings are weighing on bank margins, with a meaningful recovery expected only from the first half of FY27

India's forex reserves plunge $30.5 bn in March amid RBI intervention

Only $22 bn added to total reserves as foreign currency assets fell by $14 bn in FY26

Formal credit deepens reach as informal borrowing drops to 1%: Survey

NCAER-MFIN survey shows sharp fall in informal borrowing and full digitalisation of loan disbursements, with most loans now used for income-generating activities

Benchmark bond yield seen testing 7.25% by April end amid supply pressures

Government bond yields are expected to remain elevated, with the benchmark 10-year yield likely to test 7.25 per cent amid oil price pressures and heavy supply

Crisil to Icra: Rating upgrades tempered in FY26 as downgrades edged up

West Asia conflict to test India Inc's balance-sheet strength and margins in FY27

RBI holds 2 VRR auctions in a day amid strong demand for funds from banks

Central bank holds additional ₹50,000 crore VRR auction as banks face year-end liquidity pressures, with demand exceeding notified amounts due to balance sheet adjustments

Rupee posts worst fall in 12 years in FY26; bond yields rise sharply

Rupee falls 9.85% in FY26 amid foreign outflows and West Asia crisis, while bond yields rise despite rate cuts due to supply pressures and global uncertainties

March sees $30 billion drop in India's foreign exchange reserves

Forex reserves declined for a third week, led by a sharp fall in gold holdings, while forward book positions and global factors continue to exert pressure on reserve adequacy

Despite credit-guarantee scheme, banks may stay cautious on lending to MFIs

Banks are likely to remain cautious in lending to MFIs despite the credit guarantee scheme, with underwriting standards and risk assessment frameworks unchanged

Forex reserves drop $7 bn to $709.75 bn on fall in foreign currency assets

Reserves decline driven by fall in foreign currency assets, while gold holdings rise marginally; analysts expect pressure to persist amid geopolitical tensions and outflows

Banking system liquidity surplus shrinks to ₹16,875 cr, lowest since Jan 22

Liquidity surplus narrows amid advance tax outflows and GST payments, while muted demand seen in RBI's VRR auctions and short-term borrowing shifts to TREPS market

Rupee set for worst year since FY14, hits fresh low of 93.72 per dollar

Elevated oil prices, strong dollar demand trigger sharpest single-day fall in 4 years

Arohan Financial Services to file draft papers for IPO by March-end: MD

The microfinance lender is targeting an AUM of Rs 9,000 crore in FY27

NBFCs hold back on ECB plans as West Asia conflict pushes up hedging cost

The hedging cost has increased up to 75 basis points, increasing the landed cost of foreign currency borrowings for NBFCs

Higher-ticket loans drive microfinance disbursals in Oct-Dec: Equifax-SIDBI

Loans above Rs 75,000 now account for 38% of microfinance disbursals, reflecting lenders' growing preference for larger exposures to existing borrowers, says Equifax-SIDBI report

Micro lenders turn to secured loans to negate asset quality pressures

Microfinance lenders are expanding into secured products such as gold, mortgage and MSME loans as RBI's revised norms and asset quality pressures push them to diversify portfolios

India's forex reserves down $11.7 bn at $716.8 bn on drop in foreign assets

India's foreign exchange reserves fell by $11.7 billion to $716.8 billion in the week ended March 6, mainly due to a decline in foreign currency assets, RBI data showed

Banking sector to maintain strong growth over the next two years: ICRA

Profitability in the banking sector is expected to remain healthy, supported by stronger core earnings

Missing half in India's growth puzzle: Female labour participation just 42%

Over 125 million women in India with secondary or higher education are outside the labour force