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The Banking Frontline 04 December 2025

Issue: 1081


India loses top manufacturing spot as PMI falls to nine-month low: India ceded its position as the world’s fastest-growing major manufacturing economy in November, as factory activity cooled more sharply than expected. The HSBC Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index fell to 56.6, a nine-month low - from 59.2 in October, marking one of the steepest month-on-month declines in the region. Although still firmly in expansion territory, the drop was enough for Thailand to overtake India at the top of the global PMI rankings. 

(Moneycontrol)

Rupee breaches 90 mark, INR most depreciated but among least volatile currencies, says SBI report: India’s rupee slipped past the psychologically critical Rs 90 per US dollar level on Tuesday, marking one of its fastest declines in recent years. Yet, in a contrarian assessment, SBI Research has argued that the currency’s fall should not be mistaken for weakness, stressing that the rupee remains one of the most stable emerging-market currencies, with volatility far lower than global peers. In its latest Ecowrap report, the country’s largest lender noted that while the rupee has depreciated roughly 5.5% since April 2025, this slide has been driven largely by external shocks, particularly the escalating trade dispute with the United States.

(Business Today)

Services PMI rose to 59.8 in November: Contrary to manufacturing services in private sector showed improvement in November, a survey result by S&P Global released on Wednesday showed. During the month job creation was modest. “India’s services PMI Business Activity Index rose from 58.9 in October to 59.8 in November, driven by robust new business intakes that fuelled output growth,” Pranjul Bhandari, Chief India Economist at HSBC, said. This index, prepared by S&P Global, is based on responses from purchasing executives of 400 companies. Index above 50 means expansion, while below 50 means contraction. On December 01, S&P Global had said that PMI Manufacturing for November was 56.6 as against 59.2 of October. November number was lowest in 9 months.

(Business Line)


Hindujas looking for strategic partner in IndusInd Bank, but will not dilute stake: The Hinduja Group has urged the government and the Reserve Bank of India to let private bank promoters hold stakes of up to 40% and align voting rights accordingly. The bank now has a capital adequacy ratio of over 17%, so it does not need funds. As a promoter, we have always stated that whenever funds are required, it will be provided, says Ashok Hinduja, chairman, IndusInd International Holdings (IIHL).

(Economic Times)

RBI approves appointment of Vikram Sahu as CEO of Bank of America, India operations, says internal memo: RBI has approved the appointment of Vikram Sahu as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Bank of America NA (BoFA) in India, according to an internal memo circulated by the US-headquartered bank to its employees. Sahu will assume the charge in addition to his current responsibilities as India country executive. Sahu will replace Kaku Nakhate, who served as the bank CEO for about 15 years.

(Economic Times)

Banks pushing riskier loans to net higher yields, protect NIMs: Banks have started increasing exposure to higher yielding loans as they try to cash in on a benign credit environment and at the same time protect margins, which have been under strain in this financial year. his strategy aims to safeguard profit margins in a favorable credit market. Recent data shows an increase in the average lending rate on new loans. This trend helps banks maintain their net interest margins. Banks are also lending more to individuals and smaller businesses.

(Economic Times)

Bank of Maharashtra OFS oversubscribed, govt mops up ?2,492 crore: With the oversubscription of the offer-for-sale (OFS) of state-owned Bank of Maharashtra, the government is expected to realise about Rs 2,492 crore by diluting its 6 per cent stake in the bank. With the allotment of shares, the Pune-based lender would become Minimum Public Shareholding compliant with the Sebi norms. The OFS of Bank of Maharashtra closed for subscription Wednesday at a floor price of Rs 54 per share. At this price, the government would mop up about Rs 2,492 crore by divesting its 6 per cent stake in the lender. Prior to the OFS, the government's holding in the bank was 79.60 per cent. With the stake dilution to 73.6 per cent, the bank would be able to meet the MPS norm of 25 per cent as the government stake would come below 75 per cent.

(Business Standard)


Around 200 IndiGo flights cancelled due to pilot shortage, airline issues apology: Chaos ensued across Indian airports as around 200 IndiGo flights were cancelled on Wednesday, making it airline's one of the most severe operational breakdowns in recent years. With scores of passengers stranded, IndiGo issued an apology for the inconvenience caused. On Wednesday, multiple airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, reported around 200 flight cancellations till the afternoon, according to a report by News18. A significant factor behind the chaos is a sharp shortage of crew, particularly pilots, following the introduction of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms last month. The new rules mandate more rest hours and humane rosters, but IndiGo has been struggling to realign its massive network accordingly.

(Moneycontrol)

Time for India Inc to shake out of comfort zone: Uday Kotak: As the rupee slipped to an all-time low against the dollar on Wednesday, founder and director of Kotak Mahindra Bank Uday Kotak said it was time for Indian businesses to “shake out of comfort zone”. The veteran banker attributed the decline to foreign institutions selling Indian equities and said for now they “seem smarter” as local investors continue their buying spree. “Re@90. The proximate reason: foreign selling of Indian stocks both FPI & PE under FDI. Indian investors buying. Time will tell who is smarter. For now foreigners seem smarter. 1 year nifty $ return is 0. But this a long game. Time for Indian business to shake out of comfort zone,” he said in a post on X.

(Financial Express)


SEBI eases access for low-risk foreign investors with new SWAGAT-FI window:  Markets regulator SEBI has made it easier for low risk foreign investors to participate in the Indian securities market with the introduction of a single window access, a move aimed at simplifying compliance and enhancing the country's attractiveness as an investment destination. The new framework - Single Window Automatic & Generalised Access for Trusted Foreign Investors (SWAGAT-FI) - would provide easier investment access to low risk foreign investors, enable a unified registration process across multiple investment routes and reduce repeated compliance and documentation for such entities.

(Business Line)

Government withdraws mandatory pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app:  Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, the government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers, the Ministry of Communications said on Wednesday. It said that, with the intent to provide cybersecurity to all citizens, the Ministry had mandated the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones. The app is secure and meant solely to help citizens avoid bad actors in the cyber world, it added. Meanwhile, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said that snooping is neither possible nor will it happen with the Sanchar Saathi app.

(Financial Express)


OFFER FOR SALE

§ An Offer For Sale (OFS) is a method that allows company promoters to sell their shares to institutional and retail investors through stock exchanges. In an OFS, existing shareholders (typically promoters) sell their shares directly to investors without the company issuing new shares.

§ Primarily used by large shareholders to reduce their stake, meet regulatory minimum public shareholding norms, or monetize their holdings. The government also uses this method for the disinvestment of public sector enterprises.

§ In an Offer for Sale (OFS), existing shareholders sell their shares and receive the proceeds, while in a Follow-on Public Offer (FPO), the company issues new shares to raise fresh capital for its own use.


RBI KEY RATES

Repo Rate: 5.50%

SDF: 5.25%

MSF /Bank Rate: 5.75%

CRR: 3.00%

SLR: 18.00%

FOREX RATES (RBI REF. RATE)

INR / 1 USD : 90.2697

INR / 1 GBP : 119.5026

INR / 1 EUR : 105.1022

INR /100 JPY: 58.0200

EQUITY INDEX

Sensex:  85106.81 (-31.46)

NIFTY:    25986.00 (-46.20)

Bnk NIFTY: 59348.25 (+74.45)


Navy Day: Navy Day is celebrated on 4th December to honour India's decisive naval victory during Operation Trident in the 1971 India–Pakistan War.

Historical events: In world history, this day is known for significant events including the death of Nobel laureate Thomas Hunt Morgan (1945), the killing of civil rights activist Fred Hampton (1969), and the death of Bollywood actor Shashi Kapoor (2017).

 

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