Aathira Varier

Shallow rate hike cycle likely to still test borrowers this time

A shallower rate-hike cycle could still strain household budgets as higher EMIs, elevated inflation and uncertain wage growth weigh on borrowers

Munich Re expects India to occupy more space in global portfolio: Jurecka

Christoph Jurecka says low insurance penetration, economic growth and a 95% natural catastrophe protection gap offer significant opportunities for reinsurance

Decline in fire insurance premium moderates to 14% in September 2026

Commercial fire insurance premiums fell 13.6 per cent in September, compared with a 24.8 per cent decline in August, as catastrophe losses prompted insurers to ease discounting

Leading NBFCs flag early signs of repayment stress in gold loan segment

Bajaj Finance and Piramal Finance flag early signs of stress in gold loans as rapid lending growth raises concerns over repayment delays, borrower leverage and defaults

Mahindra Finance Q2 net profit rises 55% to ₹882 crore on loan growth

Mahindra Finance reported 22% growth in disbursements to Rs 16,499 crore in Q2FY27, while assets under management rose 15% and credit costs declined to 1.6% from 2.2% a year ago

Open to acquisition to build capabilities: Piramal Finance MD & CEO

Jairam Sridharan says urban and semi-urban markets will drive H2 growth as the lender takes a measured approach to wholesale lending

Plan to enter credit card biz in six months: South Indian Bank MD & CEO

South Indian Bank MD & CEO Mahesh Pai plans to enter the credit card business within six months, boost retail lending, expand branches and target 15-16% credit growth over the next two years.

FCNR(B) deposit inflows weigh on private banks' margins in Q2FY27 results

HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank report sequential declines in net interest margins as FCNR(B) deposits weigh on earnings, but expect recovery as funds are deployed

Banks weigh income impact of Irdai's proposed insurance commission caps

Banks are exploring higher policy sales and changes in product mix to offset potential fee income losses, while RBL Bank estimates a 50-60% decline in bancassurance income

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