SBI chief lambasts RBI over Re steps
SBI chief criticises RBI, says governor should have raised rates instead of squeezing inter-bank liquidit
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KOLKATA/MUMBAI: State Bank of India chairman Pratip Chaudhuri came down heavily on the Reserve Bank of India stating that an interest rate hike would have been less damaging that the central bank's measures to choke liquidity. The statement comes on a day when bond yields shot up and bank stocks were plunged following RBI's second round of measures to drain liquidity to support the rupee.
"The RBI has to check liquidity and we hope it is a shortterm measure. It is always better to hike interest rate than choke liquidity," he said. Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of the Ficci banking conclave on Wednesday. the SBI chairman pointed out that stability of rupee is the priority of RBI. However, he felt that the objective could be achieved by raising policy rates.
"Interest rate is the proper lever for managing the money market, bond market and Gsec market. Therefore, in order to rein in the prices in the bond market, interest rate which is a much better instrument should have been applied to curb liquidity," he added. "The RBI has to check liquidity and we hope it is a shortterm measure. It is always better to hike interest rate than choke liquidity," he said. Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of the Ficci banking conclave on Wednesday. the SBI chairman pointed out that stability of rupee is the priority of RBI. However, he felt that the objective could be achieved by raising policy rates.
On Wednesday, the rupee gained 64 paise closing at 59.13 against the US dollar. But the bond markets took the brunt of RBI's measures. Prices of the benchmark 10-year bond crashed as yields rose intraday to 8.5% which is a rise of 95 basis points since RBI announced its first round of liquidity tightening measures.
To underline its seriousness, the central bank accepted a high cut-off yield of 11% at an auction of 91-day treasury bills—the highest in six years.
According to Chaudhuri, the RBI action has severely affected the bond market instantly and the yields shot up creating panic in the market and saw interest rates hardening in the short term. "Even till today, the G-sec market is languishing with the RBI and government auction almost failing. For all practical purposes, money market instruments are either not readily available or come at a high cost," he added. Bankers are now waiting to see if RBI measures last beyond August. If the present tight money policy continues until the end of the second quarter, banks will take a big hit in their second quarter results. "We expect these measures to last for not more than amonth. However, if the measures were to persist, the higher funding cost of banks may translate into higher lending rates thereby endangering the already weak investment cycle. We expect downside risks to our GDP growth forecast of 5.5% in FY14, if these measures were to last over a month," said Upasna Bhardwaj, economist, ING Vysya Bank.
The SBI chairman said, "Any change which seriously impacts the market should be implemented in a calibrated manner. It is my view that RBI should provide at least 10-15 days to allow the market to adjust to the new liquidity measures. The repo rate is now 7.25% but the real repo is 10.25%." Chaudhuri reiterated that he is in favour of abolition of CRR to infuse liquidity into the system which he has been preaching for a year.
"CRR abolition could inject Rs 3 lakh crore in the capital starved economy. In fact, in last one year, CRR has been cut down to 4% from 6%, which vindicates my stand," he added.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/SBI-chief-lambasts-RBI-over-Re-steps/articleshow/21323831.cms
To underline its seriousness, the central bank accepted a high cut-off yield of 11% at an auction of 91-day treasury bills—the highest in six years.
According to Chaudhuri, the RBI action has severely affected the bond market instantly and the yields shot up creating panic in the market and saw interest rates hardening in the short term. "Even till today, the G-sec market is languishing with the RBI and government auction almost failing. For all practical purposes, money market instruments are either not readily available or come at a high cost," he added. Bankers are now waiting to see if RBI measures last beyond August. If the present tight money policy continues until the end of the second quarter, banks will take a big hit in their second quarter results. "We expect these measures to last for not more than amonth. However, if the measures were to persist, the higher funding cost of banks may translate into higher lending rates thereby endangering the already weak investment cycle. We expect downside risks to our GDP growth forecast of 5.5% in FY14, if these measures were to last over a month," said Upasna Bhardwaj, economist, ING Vysya Bank.
The SBI chairman said, "Any change which seriously impacts the market should be implemented in a calibrated manner. It is my view that RBI should provide at least 10-15 days to allow the market to adjust to the new liquidity measures. The repo rate is now 7.25% but the real repo is 10.25%." Chaudhuri reiterated that he is in favour of abolition of CRR to infuse liquidity into the system which he has been preaching for a year.
"CRR abolition could inject Rs 3 lakh crore in the capital starved economy. In fact, in last one year, CRR has been cut down to 4% from 6%, which vindicates my stand," he added.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/SBI-chief-lambasts-RBI-over-Re-steps/articleshow/21323831.cms