Banking liquidity hits three-month low of Rs 13K crore
The liquidity deficit in the banking system fell to Rs 13,000 crore on Thursday, its lowest since December 16. Experts say the worst of the liquidity deficit may be over and expect it to turn surplus in the first quarter. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducted a five-day variable rate repo (VRR) auction with a notified amount of Rs 1 lakh crore on Friday, which received bids worth Rs 38,423 crore only, reflecting low demand for funds from banks.

RBI cancels March 31 holiday for banks due to year-end financial transactions
New Delhi: Due to the end of the financial year, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled a scheduled holiday on March 31 to keep banks operational for year-end financial transactions.

RBI mandates banks to conduct special clearing operations on Monday
Banks open for selective operations on March 31: RBI mandates participation in special clearing
The Financial Express

RBI raises liquidity facility limit for standalone primary dealers to ₹15,000 crore
 

Services sector credit growth dips sharply in February, shows RBI data
 

Central Bank of India partners with PSB Alliance for digital supply chain finance
Mumbai:  Central Bank of India said it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with PSB Alliance Pvt Ltd for Digital Supply Chain Finance. Under this partnership, the public sector bank will leverage the digital platform offered by PSB Alliance for end-to-end, paperless financing for supply chain participants, per a bank statement. 

IBA elects CS Setty as new Chairman

IBA is the industry body for banks, having members from across public and private sector banks. The body holds consultations between bankers and the banking regulator on areas concerning the sector.

Banking business model under challenge if deposit tightness persists: Uday Kotak
Leading Indian banks are offering deposit rates which are higher than home loan rates, resulting in a negative spread and if deposit mobilisation challenges remain, the banking system business model will face a challenge, Kotak Mahindra Bank’s founder Uday Kotak said today. “Leading banks are taking 1 year wholesale deposits at ~8 per cent. Translates to loaded marginal deposit cost of 9 per cent+ after CRR (0 interest), SLR, deposit insurance, priority sector,” he said.

Truhome Finance raises $100 million via maiden syndicated External Commercial Borrowing
Mumbai: Truhome Finance Ltd (formerly Shriram Housing Finance) has raised US $100 million (approximately ₹870 crore) via its maiden syndicated External Commercial Borrowing (ECB). The ECB, which is structured as a social loan, facility carries a coupon of SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate) + 160 basis points, per a statement issued by the affordable housing finance company.

RBI increases ATM withdrawal fee to Rs 23 from May 2025
RBI announces increase in ATM fee, effective from May 1, 2025
The Financial Express

Linking ATM interchange fees to external index will aid ATM operators, EPS CMD says
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) must consider linking ATM cash withdrawal interchange fee to an external macro indicator, rather than re-setting it themselves, to ensure that rates remain ‘fair and responsive to economic conditions’, Electronic Payment and Services (EPS) chairman and managing director Mani Mamallan tells businessline in an interaction. The RBI and NPCI recently approved hiking ATM interchange fees by ₹2 from May 1 onwards.

NBFCs must never take risk beyond absorption capacity: RBI DG Swaminathan
 

Jana SFB expands operations to Andhra Pradesh with Guntur branch
 

BSE stock jumps 18% as NSE defers Monday expiry
The BSE stock zoomed 18% on Friday, a day after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) proposed to fix expiry days on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Behaviour beats algorithms, says Bajaj Finserv AMC’s Nimesh
When Nobel Prize-winning physicists stumble in the stock market and legendary investors outsmart mathematical models, this tells you investing is more than just understanding numbers.

ASK Asset & Wealth Management gets initial SEBI nod for mutual fund venture
Mumbai: Mumbai Blackstone-backed ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group has received an in-principle approval from SEBI for its mutual fund venture. The MF offering will complement ASK’s existing suite of investment solutions, which cover listed equity portfolio management, alternates and wealth management, providing a broader range of opportunities for investors across segments.

‘India has a valuation problem, not a macro one’ says S Naren; bets on large caps amid uncertainty
Amid the volatile market and global concerns, ICICI Prudential Asset Management’s Chief Investment Officer Sankaran Naren is steering his bets toward large-cap stocks. This is as per a Bloomberg report. While the Indian economy remains strong, he believes the challenge lies in valuations rather than macroeconomic fundamentals.

Pledging mutual funds? Keep extra units handy to handle margin calls
Loans against mutual funds (MFs) are gaining traction among retail investors, who now recognise the value of staying invested for the long term. Rather than redeeming MF units during a cash crunch, many are opting for loans against them.

PE firms are increasing exposure to buyouts
Mumbai: Private equity investors are increasingly turning to buyouts to hold controlling positions in companies rather than just purchasing minority stakes in them.

Max Ventures Investment Holdings reduces stake in Max Financial Services from 3.22% to 1.62%
Mumbai: Max Ventures Investment Holdings Private Ltd has sold 55 lakh equity shares in Max Financial Services Ltd (MFSL) in the open market, thereby reducing its shareholding from 3.22 per cent to 1.62 per cent.

AU Small Finance Bank raises ₹770 cr via tier-2 bonds
Mumbai: AU Small Finance Bank said it has raised ₹770 crore via the issue of tier-2 bonds, the largest bond issuance by a small finance bank in difficult market conditions. The bonds were raised at a coupon of 9.2 per cent.