RBI cuts repo rate by 100 bps

The Reserve Bank of India on Saturday cut the repo rate - the rate at which RBI lends to banks - by 100 basis points to 6.5 per cent from 7.5 per cent and reverse repo - the rate at which banks park excess funds with RBI - by 100 basis points to 5 per cent from 6 per cent, effective from December 8.

However it has kept cash reserve ration (CRR) - the proportion of deposits banks must keep with the central bank - unchanged at 5.5 per cent. The 6.5 per cent repo rate is the lowest rate in 2-1/2 years, while the 5 per cent reverse repo rate is its lowest in more than three years.

The RBI has taken the steps to boost growth and shore up investor confidence amid signs of economic slowdown and in the wake of deadly attacks in Mumbai.

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"Industrial activity, particularly in the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors, is decelerating," RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao told a news conference.

Subbarao said the central bank would closely monitor developments in global and domestic financial markets and would take swift and effective action as appropriate.

"The Reserve Bank's policy endeavour will be to minimise the negative impact of the crisis and to ensure an orderly adjustment," he said.

Saturday's decision was the first change in the reverse repo rate since July 2006.

The cash reserve ratio, the proportion of deposits banks must keep with the central bank, was left unchanged at 5.5 per cent.

Expectations of rate reductions have mounted ever since last week's attacks in Mumbai in which gunmen brought the business district to a standstill as they holed up in two luxury hotels and a Jewish centre, killing 171 people.

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The benchmark 10-year bond yield fell 8 basis points to 6.76 per cent on Friday ahead of the central bank's decision, which had been well flagged by government officials, and the rupee gained against the dollar.

The government is also expected to announce fiscal measures to give impetus to the economy, which data show may be decelerating more rapidly than anticipated from an annual rate of 9 per cent in the fiscal year which ended last March.

Fiscal deficit set to sharply deteriorate from now on

India’s budget deficit for April-September 2008 may not compare very badly with the same period a year ago, but it threatens to deteriorate in the months ahead as the government may have to step up spending to stimulate the economy even while tax revenue growth is slackening amid slowing corporate activity.

The fiscal deficit for the six months to September 2008 was an estimated 4.1% of the nominal GDP compared to 3.8% at the end of the same period last year. Likewise, revenue deficit for the same period was 3.1% at the end of first half of the current fiscal compared to 2.9%, a year ago. These numbers will likely worsen as the arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission awards due to be paid this year are fully disbursed.

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Already, data made public by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) on November 28 point to further deterioration of the fiscal position. The fiscal deficit for the seven months to October was higher by 42% compared to a year ago, while it was only 26% higher at the end of September.
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Economy of India to grow slower this year

"Companies across sectors have begun announcing plant shutdowns and delays in project implementation. The negative factors appear to more than offset the possible lagged impact of aggressive monetary easing and lower commodity
prices," Citi said in a report.

It said reduced domestic investment on the back of tighter credit standards and external weaknesses should slow GDP growth to 6.8 per cent in the current fiscal and 5.5 per cent in the next fiscal.

In its report on Financial Markets prospects in 2009, Citi said its forecasts factor in a further 200 basis point reduction in policy rates by the RBI.

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With inflation down to 8.40 per cent, the Reserve Bank is expected to cut policy rates, repo and reverse repo, along with a fiscal stimulus package by the Government, to spur economic growth.

The Indian economy grew by 7.8 per cent in the first half of the fiscal from 9.3 per cent a year ago, and analysts predict further slowdown in the remaining period of this fiscal.

According to official sources, over 65,000 employees have lost jobs during the three-month period ending October in India on account of the economic slowdown.

"A sample survey of 21 companies found that 65,507 jobs were lost in the country in various sectors between August and October," a source said.

Besides, exporters have lost orders worth Rs 1,792 crore on account of the slowdown in global trade and lack of demand from the US and European markets, the main destinations of Indian products.

Citi further said that due the global recession, India's export growth would slow to 5.9 per cent in the next fiscal.

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However, lower oil prices, coupled with new oil and natural gas discoveries, will likely result in an improvement in the trade and current account deficits in that year, it added.

India's exports declined by over 12 per cent to $12.8 billion in October against $14.5 billion a year ago.

As such, the export target for this year is expected to be cut to USD 175 billion this fiscal against the earlier projection of $200 billion.

- source www.economictimes.com

- posted under economy of india, india economy updates, india economy growth, economy of india 2008-09

RS v/s US $ - December updates - India economy

Indian economy trends are very important for those who are into economic analysis in India, Indian National rupee popularly known as INR in international market is following a downward trend due to global financial turbulance. As volume of US dollars (USD) in international markets is on a decline so the value of US $ is growing up, well indian IT industrycan feel better to some extent and is the only industry which would be getting a plus from current market scenario.

The post would include (US$ v/$ rupee) daily trends the rate shown of Indian rupee would be as displayed at time of stock markets closure(mainly BSE and NSE) you can also see daily Stock market live rates and closing rates.

INR(Indian National rupee) v/s US$ November trends/updates are as follows:

format for display of rs v/s $ would be in following order:

(date | RS v/s $ rate Daily trends updates | Remarks with respect to US $)

31/12/2008 | 48.50 | Up^0.26 | Rupee (INR) grew stronger by 26 paise wrto US $

30/12/2008 | 48.76 | Down(-0.87) | Rupee fell by 87 paise wrto US $

29/12/2008 | 47.89 | Up^1.10 | Rupee (INR) grew stronger by 110 paise wrto US $

17/12/2008 | 47.33 | Up^0.49 | Rupee (INR) grew stronger by 49 paise wrto US $

16/12/2008 | 47.98 | Up^0.58 | Rupee (INR) grew stronger by 58 paise wrto US $

15/12/2008 | 48.52 | Up^0.19 | Rupee (INR) grew stronger by 19 paise wrto US $

12/12/2008 | 48.52 | Up^0.60 | Rupee (INR) grew stronger by 60 paise wrto US $

10/12/2008 | 49.22 | Up^0.47 | Rupee (INR) grew stronger by 47 paise wrto US $

8/12/2008 | 49.69 | Up^0.10 | Rupee (INR) grew stronger by 10 paise wrto US $

6/12/2008 and 7/12/2008 saturday and sunday resp (8/12/2008 rates are wrto 7/12/2008)

5/12/2008 | 49.69 | Up^0.21 | Rupee (INR) grew stronger by 21 paise wrto US $

4/12/2008 | 49.90 | Up^0.62 | Rupee (INR) grew stronger by 62 paise wrto US $

3/12/2008 | 50.52 | Down(-0.43) | Rupee fell by 43 paise wrto US $