NDTV REPORT SAYS RBI hikes key rates by 50 bps; loans may become dearer

Challenged by unrelenting inflationary pressures, Reserve Bank on Tuesday announced stringent measures of hiking mandatory cash reserve of the banks and its short-term lending rate to them to suck up an estimated Rs 20,000 crore.
According to analysts the move could make loans dearer for housing, car and personal expenses as also to the industry.
Announcement of hiking cash reserve ratio by 50 basis points and the short-term lending (repo) rate by a similar margin comes close on the heels of RBI Governor Y V Reddy discussing with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram the prevailing inflation scenario.Reflecting the Finance Ministry's view that monetary policy would be the first line of defence against inflation that has surged to a 13-year high of 11.05 per cent, the RBI after intense consultation today pronounced the new measures, part of which would be effected in installments.Inflationary pressures
In a precursor to raising the CRR from 8.25 per cent to 8.75 per cent in two installments beginning July 5 and the repo rate from 8.0 per cent to 8.5 per cent with immediate effect, Reddy had said on Monday that the apex bank would do every thing to ease the inflationary pressures.Expressing concern over rising inflation, RBI said, "Besides oil prices there are some underlying inflationary pressures impacting inflation in India."The Reserve Bank said the move is "somewhat painful" but timely contraction of money supply has to be viewed in the context of new reality of high and volatile energy prices, which is not a temporary phenomenon any longer.India's growth momentum
Justifying the move, the central bank said, "It is important to ensure that generalised instability does not develop and erodes the hard earned gains in terms of both outcomes and positive sentiments on India's growth momentum."
RBI's decision will have an impact on interest rates on various loans as is evident from bankers' reactions. Commenting on the impact of RBI's step, PNB Chairman K C Chakrabarty said prime lending rate could go up by 50 basis points. "All the loans linked to PLR like consumer loans, home loans, personal loans are bound to go up. At the same time, deposit rates would also be increased."HDFC Managing Director Keki Mistry said," if the cost of funding goes up, we will pass on costs to our borrowers." However, IBA Chairman MBN Rao said banks would wait for sometime before increasing home loans.Quantum of rate increase by banks
According to United Bank CMD P K Gupta, banks may have to go in for a hike in interest rates even before the monetary policy, scheduled for next month. However, the quantum of increase will be decided after assessing the situation and the need of the individual bank.
UCO Bank CMD S K Goel said it does not mean increase in rates across the board. "We can adjust our short-term loans by half a per cent."
According to Indian Bank Chairman M S Sundara Rajan, "We have to look at the PLR next. The bank is likely to take a decision on first week of July. Accordingly, deposit rates would also be hiked."Industry chambers fear RBI's step may also harm India's economic growth, particularly manufacturing sector. Ficci said the move would affect the manufacturing sector, which is already facing slackening due to high interest rates. This would also affect overall rate of growth of the economy.
Assocham President Sachin Jindal said despite India Inc asking RBI not to raise the repo and CRR, the apex bank has done it, giving adequate hints interest rates would increase.
Measures seem to have been taken to contain pressures on inflation but India has no option but live with it, he said.Announcing the decision, RBI said, "At this juncture, the overriding priority for monetary policy is to eschew any further intensification of inflationary pressures and to firmly anchor inflation expectations."Managing aggregate demand
RBI further said moderating and managing aggregate demand is a critical element of this approach, so that pressures on prices are not intensified.
The central bank also pointed out that fiscal pressures are emerging due to the possibility of enhanced subsidies on account of food, fertiliser and fuel oil as well as for financing deferred liabilities relating to farm loan waivers.
These have implications for additional pressures on aggregate demand and potential spillover in external sector.
RBI had earlier raised short-term lending rate by 25 basis points to 8 per cent on June 11. This is the second move to tighten money supply ahead of RBI's quarterly review of the monetary policy, scheduled for July 29.

CRR - REPO HIKED BY RBI DUE TO CONTROL INFLATION

RBI moves strongly to fight against rising inflation. It has hiked the Cash Reserve Ratio, or CRR, which is the portion of deposits that banks need to keep as cash with the central bank, by a steep 50 basis points.
This hike will take effect in two stages. First, a 25 basis point hike on July 5, and another 25 basis point hike on July 19. By July 19, CRR will stand at 8.75%.
It has also hiked the repo rate by 50 basis points, which will be effective immediately.
The central bank said there has been a turnaround in production of durables. "Consumption demand seems to be reviving."

The rise in non-oil imports reflects domestic demand pressure, it said. "Aggregate demand pressures are strongly in evidence. The priority now is to eschew the build-up in inflation pressures."

Advance tax figures signal India Inc is in good health

After a string of bad news on the economic front starting with spiraling fuel prices to a double digit rate of inflation, finally there seems to be something for the Finance Minister P Chidambaram to cheer about.
The advance tax payments for the first quarter of 2008-09 are up 27 per cent to Rs 20,700 crore in spite of interest rate pressure.
The banking sector is doing well with ICICI Bank paying in Rs 340 crore and SBI's advance tax increasing 31.8 per cent to Rs 663 crore.
With crude prices reaching for the sky, the upstream oil companies are cashing in with ONGC paying the highest advance tax at Rs 1342 crore and GAIL paying Rs 335 crore.
But all is not well in India Inc just as ONGC is raking in the moolah those who depend on coal and oil are a worried lot.
"No doubt that high oil prices will hit the growth. It is hard to ascertain how much but some sectors will be hit harder," said Prasad Menon, MD, Tata Power.
The metal and mining companies have also put up a good show like Tata Steel which has benefited from a price hike at Corus paying Rs 356 crore in taxes and the National Mineral Development Corporation posting a figure of Rs 400 crore.
But with the Sensex losing over 10 per cent this quarter, the market watchers say the going will get tougher.
All eyes are now focused on the quarterly earnings season, which will send out a clearer signal on the health of corporate India.