RBI seen extending record cash boost as global uncertainty grows
The Reserve Bank of India is set to extend its record cash infusions into the banking system as it shields the economy from mounting global headwinds, analysts say. The authority is expected to inject as much as ₹4 lakh crore ($47 billion) through bond purchases and foreign-exchange swaps in the current fiscal year, according to IDFC FIRST Bank. SBM India estimates that up to two trillion rupees could be injected in the first half, adding to an unprecedented $80 billion already pumped in since January. 

RBI poised to inject Rs 4 trillion to safeguard economy amid global uncertainty
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to extend its record cash infusions into the banking system in order to shield the economy from mounting global headwinds, a Bloomberg report stated citing analysts. The central bank is expected to inject as much as Rs 4 trillion ($47 billion) through bond purchases and foreign-exchange swaps in the current fiscal year, IDFC First Bank said. Meanwhile, the Bloomberg report said that SBM India has projected that as much as Rs 2 trillion could be infused in the first half of the year, on top of a record $80 billion already injected since January.

Finmin likely to meet heads of public sector banks on Apr 17, to review financial performance
The finance ministry has called a meeting of heads of public sector banks (PSBs) on April 17 to review the financial performance of banks and discuss targets for flagship schemes of the government, including Jan Dhan Yojana and Mudra Scheme for the financial year 2025-26.

Centre may set Mudra loans target Rs 5-6 lakh crore for FY26
The Centre may set a target between Rs 5-6 lakh crore in 2025-26 for loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) compared with Rs 5 lakh crore in 2024-25.  

Reserve Bank MPC starts deliberations amid expectations of 25 bps rate cut
RBI MPC meet begins: Economists predict 25-35 bps cut on growth concerns, cooling inflation
The Financial Express

Q4 result preview: Banks' net profit likely fell 4% on NIM pressure
 

Women own 39.2 per cent of bank accounts in India: Report
Women own 39.2 per cent of bank accounts in the country and the proportion is even higher at 42.2 per cent in rural areas, according to a government report.

Loan growth slows for banks in Q4 as liquidity stays tight, deposits lag
Mumbai: The pace of loan and deposit growth slowed sequentially for several banks in the fourth quarter ended December even as margins came under pressure.

SBI economists expect 75-100 bps cumulative policy rate reduction by March 2026
Mumbai: State Bank of India’s economic research department expects a cumulative policy rate reduction of 75-100 basis points by March 2026, factoring in the average inflation envisaged and the output gap consequent upon different GDP scenarios. SBI’s economists assessed that based on the available estimates of natural rate the neutral nominal policy rates works out at 5.65 per cent.

Bank of Baroda launches retail term deposit of 444-days tenor at 7.15%
Mumbai: Bank of Baroda (BoB) has launched a retail term deposit (below ₹3 crore) scheme – the ‘bob Square Drive Deposit Scheme’ of 444-days tenor at an interest rate of 7.15 per cent per annum for the general public.

Govt announces 'One State, One RRB' implementation from May 1, 2025
 

Welspun One closes ₹2,300 crore funding from NaBFID for JNPA logistics project
 

RBI allows banks to charge customers up to ₹23/ transaction if ATM transactions exceed free limit
Mumbai: To increase the viability of the ATM business, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has increased the maximum amount a bank can charge its customers for transactions beyond the mandatory free transactions from ₹21 to ₹23 per transaction. This increase comes in the backdrop of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) recently upping the ATM interchange fee (paid by a bank when its customer uses another bank’s ATM) from ₹17 to ₹19 for financial transactions and ₹6 to ₹7 per transaction.

Piramal Capital receives RBI nod to operate as NBFC-ICC, says will exit housing finance biz
Piramal Enterprises Ltd on Monday announced that Piramal Capital & Housing Finance has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to commence operations as a Non-Banking Financial Company – Investment and Credit Company (NBFC-ICC). “We wish to inform you that the Reserve Bank of India under Section 45 IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, on 4th April, 2025, has granted a Certificate of Registration (CoR) to Piramal Finance Limited (PFL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, to commence its business of Non-banking Financial Institution– Investment and Credit Company (NBFC-ICC) without accepting public deposits,” the company said in a regulatory filing.

Payments platform Easebuzz raises $30 mn in funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners
Bengaluru: Payments platform Easebuzz has raised $30 million in series A funding in a mix of primary and secondary rounds, led by Bessemer Venture Partners. The round also saw participation from existing investors 8i Ventures and Varanium Capital. The funding will be deployed to help Easebuzz to expand its Vertical SaaS stack, enhance product capabilities in online payment aggregation and strengthen its merchant network and market penetration. Easebuzz is also entering the offline payments space with point-of-sale (POS) and UPI QR-based Soundbox solutions.

Juspay secures $60 million investment round led by Kedaara Capital
Bengaluru: Payment infrastructure company Juspay has raised $60 million as part of its Series D funding round in a combination of primary and secondary investments. Kedaara Capital led this investment round with participation from existing investors Softbank and Accel.

Sebi fines Rs 7 lakh on Reliance Securities for flouting stock brokers' norms
SEBI impose Rs 7 lakh penalty on Reliance Securities, here’s why

WazirX secures majority creditor nod for proposed scheme of arrangement
WazirX’s parent firm Zettai said 93.1 per cent of eligible voting creditors, representing 94.6 per cent in value of claims, voted in favour of the scheme, months after the company proposed restructuring in the Singapore High Court. In total, 1,41,476 scheme creditors, representing $195.65 million in approved claims, cast a vote. Out of the total creditor base, 1,31,659 investors representing $184.99 million voted in favour of the scheme.

Bitcoin drops to 5-month-low amid broader market selloff; crypto down 5.3%
Bitcoin price today: Cryptocurrency benchmark, Bitcoin prices hit their 5-month-low levels on Monday amid a broader market selloff, which was prompted by investor concerns over the world economy potentially sliding into a recession.

WazirX theft: 93% of creditors support restructuring plan
A cyberattack on WazirX had led to the theft of about Rs 2,000 crore worth of funds.

Neo to raise ₹5,000 crore for new private credit fund as correction shrinks equity pool
Mumbai: Neo Asset Management aims to raise ₹5,000 crore for a new private credit fund, sensing a bigger opportunity as the public listing market slows amid the stock market slump.

Mutual funds hold on to cash as uncertainty grips the market
Mumbai: Mutual funds are preferring to sit mostly on cash as the market volatility plays out and are advising retail investors to do the same on apprehensions that the current fall in the markets might continue for a while until there is more clarity on the tariff situation. In the middle of last week, US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping import tariffs on several countries and since then global markets, including Indian equities have been on a downward spiral with a trade war imminent.

Stability will soon return to the markets though short-term fluctuations will continue: Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund Managing Director & CEO
MumbaI: A Balasubramanian, Managing Director & CEO of Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, says that stability will soon return to the markets though short-term fluctuations will continue. “During the period of market volatility, investment products like the Multi-Asset Allocation Fund and Balanced Advantage Fund offer a well-structured approach for investors seeking stability and growth,” he told GEORGE MATHEW in a conversation.

‘Be prepared for higher uncertainty, volatility & larger opportunities’: Kalpen Parekh
History shows tariffs and trade barriers slow down growth and any slowdown globally will increase volatility in stock prices around the world, according to DSP Mutual Fund’s CEO Kalpen Parekh. He tells Ananya Grover that his advice to investors is making investing personal. Excerpts:

It is a stock picker’s market; private banks, life insurance, telecom look stronger, says ITI MF CIO
Expert view on markets: Rajesh Bhatia, Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at ITI Mutual Fund (MF), believes this is a stock picker’s market, and one should focus on sectors with greater visibility and predictability. In an interview with Mint, Bhatia said private banks, life insurance, telecom, utilities, etc., look relatively stronger sectors. Here are edited excerpts of the interview:

Nilesh Shah interview: Keep cash to buy in the correction, but don’t be in a hurry to deploy
Source Credit: Sandeep Singh, The Indian Express

New Delhi: As the Indian benchmark indices fell sharply in line with global markets, Nilesh Shah, MD, Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund, said the fear is that the unfolding tariff war will create stagflation in the United States and lower growth in the rest of the world. He, however, said that India is an oasis in the desert as of now, and while the country is not immune to the happenings in the world, investors should focus on large-caps and keep cash to buy during market correction. He also advised investors not to deploy cash in a hurry. Edited excerpts:

Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC raises $70 mn via GIFT City

The fund aligns with the fund house’s vision of leveraging strategic opportunities in global financial markets while operating in GIFT City. The fund attracted contributions from 269 investors, including global institutional investors, high-net-worth individuals and family offices. With its focus on long-term capital appreciation through emerging market equities, the fund aims to deliver strong value-driven returns.

From an economic standpoint, it would make complete sense to revisit the tariffs: Anish Tawakley of ICICI Prudential AMC
 

Domestic funds go on buying spree; FPIs pull out
 

What should mutual fund investors do amid the market crash? S Naren advises
 

FPIs hedge fresh risks amid tariff tensions, DIIs offer muted support
Mumbai: Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) are trimming their exposure to Indian equities in a “risk-off” move, spurred by rising global trade tensions and tariff concerns. Domestic institutional investors, however, appear to be cautiously buying the dip.

Goldman Sachs raises US recession risk to 45%, cuts 2025 growth outlook
Goldman Sachs has released a report titled "Countdown to Recession," revising its US growth forecast and increasing the likelihood of a recession. The bank now predicts that US GDP growth for the fourth quarter of 2025 will be only 0.5%, down from previous estimates. Additionally, it has raised the probability of a recession over the next 12 months from 35% to 45%.