Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

Indian call rates end down but cash conditions tight

Fri May 30, 2008 5:53pm IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

(Adds clearing house data, updates to closing level)

MUMBAI, May 30 (Reuters) - Indian overnight call rates ended lower on Friday, but the cash squeeze in the banking system continued after the increase in banks' cash reserve ratio kicked in over the weekend and on outflows towards bond auctions.

Call rates INROND= ended at 7.00/7.25 percent, lower than its previous close of 7.80/8.00 percent.

"Cash in the system is still tight, there may be a pick up in government spending next week, but then there are bond auctions as well. So call may stay at these levels," a dealer with a state-run bank said.

At its policy review on April 29 the central bank increased banks' cash reserve ratio (CRR), the amount of deposits banks have to keep with it, by 25 basis points to 8.25 percent with effect from May 24.

The Reserve Bank of India sold 100 billion rupees worth bonds on Friday, the cash settlements for which took place on Monday. It is scheduled to sell another 100 billion rupees worth bonds between May 30 to June 6.

The weighted average rate in the call money market was 7.97 percent, while collateralised borrowing and lending obligation (CBLO), a secured form of money market lending, was 7.58 percent, according to the Clearing Corp of India (CCIL).

Volume in the call money market was 113.92 billion rupees and in CBLO it was 516.16 billion rupees, CCIL data showed.

"Most of the deals happened early in the day, there were hardly any deals at levels below 7.75 percent," a dealer with a private bank said.

The central bank absorbed a marginal 0.30 billion rupees through its daily reverse repo auction on Friday, while it pumped in 96.30 billion through the repo auction, indicating a severe cash sqeeze in the banking system. (Reporting by Swati Bhat; Editing by Sunil Nair)

special coverage

Budget 2009
Budget 2009

The government presents the budget for the full fiscal year 2009/10 on July 6.  Full Coverage 

Market Update

  • IndiaIndia
  • USUS
  • UKUK
  • Asia
  • Most Actives

SHOWCASE

Photo
Is the budget over-rated for personal finance?

Expectations are high given the outcome in the general elections.  Commentary 

 
Nilekani: Infosys' loss or govt’s gain?
Nilekani: Infosys' loss or govt’s gain?

Nandan Nilekani has resigned from the Infosys board to join the government.  Commentary | Slideshow 

 
Launched

Tata Motors announced the launch of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles in India.  Slideshow | Video 

 
Satyam
The new Satyam

Stay updated with the developments at Satyam.  Full Coverage 

 
M&A Review
M&A Review

A review of mergers and acquisitions.  Full Coverage 

 
Financial Turmoil Timeline
Financial Turmoil Timeline

A round-up of measures taken by the U.S Federal Reserve since June 2007 to tackle the financial crisis.  Full Coverage