S&P Downgrades Outlook on India to Negative

S&P has maintained India’s sovereign rating at BBB- but the outlook has been revised downward to ‘negative’. This action is based on factors that are already widely known. Importantly, at this stage it is just an outlook change and not a ratings downgrade. To that extent, it is more of a warning of increasing vulnerabilities of the country. Nonetheless, the action can impact Indian Rupee in the near term, which is already under pressure and perhaps raise external borrowing costs for some of the corporate. However, the silver lining could be that this action could exert pressure on the government to act on fiscal front (possibly by raising the diesel prices etc) as well as on policy front.

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Historical Indian Repo / Reverse Repo Rates vs Inflation Vs CRR

We’d like to share with you a chart that shows the Key Interest Rates in India – Repo Rate, Reverse Repo Rate, CRR and Inflation indicators WPI and CPI.

What is Repo Rate – The RBI’s lending rate or liquidity injection rate is the only ‘independently varying’ policy rate.

What is Reverse Repo Rate ? This is the liquidity absorption rate and is pegged at 100bps below the repo rate to
help improve monetary transmission.

CRR – Cash reserve Ratio – Proportion of deposits required to be held in cash by banks with the RBI.
The Following Chart Shows

Read moreHistorical Indian Repo / Reverse Repo Rates vs Inflation Vs CRR

India’s New Reality – Oil $120+ Inflation + Poor Infrastructure + Monetary Policy

Oil price risk, India’s perennial weakness, has risen in recent months. While production and shipment risks from Iran and several African countries have impacted the supply side outlook, improved growth prospects in the US and substantial liquidity support from G-3 central banks have helped shore up demand as well, consequently pushing up global crude oil prices by 12% from the beginning of the year.

The risks of higher global oil prices translate to i) inflation and growth ii) current account deficit and rupee and iii) fiscal position of the government with special emphasis on fuel subsidies.

Read moreIndia’s New Reality – Oil $120+ Inflation + Poor Infrastructure + Monetary Policy

Fraudulent ATM withdrawals while ATM Cards Safely With Owners – Unsolved

The RBI Ombudsman Manual of 2010-11 discusses an interesting case of Fraudulent ATM withdrawals while ATM Cards are Safely in the Hands of Owners and they have not disclosed any PIN. This is for not just one or two customers but around 100 customers siphoned this way.

A series of complaints were received against a few banks alleging unauthorized debits in complainants’ accounts as a result of fraudulent withdrawals through ATMs. Considering the volume, value, timing

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Indian Politicians + Bureaucrats Let Growth Opportunities Down the Drain

As we lay to rest the problems in Eurozone, of course temporarily, we would like to give more detail and colour on Political Deadlock in Delhi and how it is hurting the Indian economy.

How much ever FM Pranab Mukherjee may try to shield his Government in the Press, the Fact is policymaking mechanism in Delhi has now remained jammed for more than a year. There is political infighting within both the main political parties in New Delhi. Hence trust is in short

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SEBI Consent Order – Is Reliance Mukesh Ambani Guilty of Insider Trading above Indian laws ?

Whistleblower of the SEBI Consent Order Scam and Corruption at High Places, K Abraham former Board Member of SEBI in his letter to the Prime Minister of India has openly said that SEBI Chairman is pressurizing to settle Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Insider Trading Case for peanuts. Reliance Mukesh Ambani has profited Rs 500 Cr in Reliance Shares Insider Trading and is liable to fine of Rs 1500 Cr.

Read moreSEBI Consent Order – Is Reliance Mukesh Ambani Guilty of Insider Trading above Indian laws ?