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The Banking Frontline 15 September 2026

Issue: 1322


·    US 10-year Treasury yield hits 5% for first time since 2023 as oil batters bonds.

·    EU to allow 2.5 lakh Indian cars at concessional duty under FTA; quota to reach 4 lakh in 10 years.

·    ank of Baroda has integrated a voice-command feature into its mobile app, enabling users to initiate and execute payment transactions verbally.

·    HDFC CEO race: One insider, one outsider in contention for the top job.

·    SBI may soon issue sanction letter to Vi for its share of Rs.35K cr funding.


India's retail inflation quickens to 4.8% in August from 4.45% in July as food prices exert pressure: India’s retail inflation has accelerated to 4.82% in August 2026 from 4.45% in July, as food prices and other key components of the consumer basket exerted pressure on the economy, according to data released by the government on Monday. The latest reading depicts that the price pressures are beginning to build after inflation remained relatively subdued through much of the first half of the year. Rural CPI inflation came in at 5.23% in August, compared with 4.31% in urban areas. The July reading comes after retail inflation breached the Reserve Bank of India’s medium-term target of 4% in June, when it rose to 4.38% from 3.93% in May. The August inflation also marked the highest reading since India adopted its revised CPI series with a new base year and updated consumption basket earlier this year.

(Economic Times)

Wholesale inflation rises to 9.92% in August; output PPI climbs as fuel, food prices remain elevated: India’s wholesale inflation rose to 9.92 percent in August 2026 from 9.78 percent in July, as higher prices of fuel, manufactured food products and chemicals outweighed some moderation in primary articles, according to data released by the commerce ministry on September 14. Wholesale inflation has remained close to double digits for four consecutive months. It increased from 3.98 percent in March to 8.36 percent in April and 9.88 percent in May, before touching a revised 9.97 percent in June and easing slightly to 9.78 percent in July. The June inflation estimate was revised upwards from the provisional reading of 9.87 percent to 9.97 percent.

(Moneycontrol)

FPIs withdraw Rs.13,138 crore from equities in Sep so far amid global uncertainty: Foreign investors pulled out Rs.13,138 crore from Indian equities in the first half of September, as heightened global uncertainty pushed crude oil prices higher, while rising US bond yields and a firm dollar weighed on risk appetite. The latest outflow comes after Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) turned net buyers in July and August, infusing Rs.20,200 crore and Rs.29,630 crore, respectively, according to data from the Central Depository Services (India) Ltd (CDSL). Prior to that, FPIs remained net sellers for four consecutive months from March to June..

(Business Line)


UPI payments up to Rs 2,000 to remain free of bank charges: Govt: The Central government on Monday announced that banks cannot impose any charges on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions of up to Rs 2,000 or payments made through RuPay-powered debit cards. A government gazette notification specified RuPay-powered debit cards and UPI transactions of up to Rs 2,000 as electronic modes of payment. It also said that no bank or system provider can impose any direct or indirect charge on a person making or receiving payments through these modes. The Finance Ministry notified the changes under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act to clarify the rules around charges on UPI transactions. The notification specifically categorised RuPay-powered debit cards and UPI transactions of up to Rs 2,000 as "electronic modes of payment".

(Moneycontrol)

RBI proposes framework to freeze only disputed amounts instead of entire accounts in cyber fraud cases: he RBI has proposed a new framework under which banks will temporarily freeze only the disputed transaction amount, instead of the entire account, when unusual transfers of Rs 1,000 or more are flagged as potentially linked to mule accounts or cyber fraud. Banks will be required to use AI-based transaction monitoring systems to identify transfers that are sudden, disproportionate to a customer's declared profile or linked to known cyber-fraud networks. The draft directions are scheduled to take effect from April 1, 2027, although banks can adopt them earlier. According to the RBI, the framework follows the Supreme Court's August 4, 2026, order directing it to prescribe and circulate an SOP for temporary debit holds on amounts or accounts linked to money-mule activity and cyber-enabled fraud.

(Economic Times)

Jio Financial says BoFA's Rs.18,268 cr to come by Dec; Jio Credit's product plans, strategy to be redrawn: Jio Credit will get the capital of Rs.18,268 crore from Bank of America (BoFA) by December this year once all the regulatory approvals for the infusion are in place, a top official at parent Jio Financial Services (JFS) has said. Once the capital comes in, the entity will re-evaluate its business strategies and also product plans to accelerate growth in assets under management (AUM), the official said, adding that BoFA is "aligned" with the need for the book to grow fast. Jio Credit's AUM can grow by around five times from the present Rs.30,000 crore courtesy the capital infusion, JFS' managing director and chief executive Hitesh Sethia told PTI.

(Business Line)

First-time borrowers deepen credit reach: Institutional credit penetration among first-time borrowers is deepening, driven by easy access to consumer durable loans, expansion of gold loans and microfinance, showed credit information bureau data. Consumer durable loans are leading new-to-credit customers into institutional borrowing. Gold loans and microfinance also significantly contribute to this growing credit access. Institutional credit penetration is expanding beyond major cities into smaller locations. India's retail credit portfolio has seen substantial year-on-year expansion. This trend indicates increasing financial inclusion for many Indian citizens.

(Economic Times)

Banks likely to see 15-20 basis points rise in FCNR(B) deposit costs: Costs on FCNR(B) deposits are likely to rise by 15-20 basis points for Indian banks, over and above the interest cost committed to depositors, as banks have to separately hedge the dollar liability arising from interest payments on these deposits, bankers said. The cost of managing this exposure depends on currency forward premiums and interest rate differentials between the two currencies. RBI is absorbing the hedging cost on the principal amount but not on the interest payable.

(Business Standard)


'People matter more than AI': Microsoft joins tech firms urging caution on advanced AI: Microsoft Corp.’s artificial intelligence researchers have released a new set of guiding principles for developing advanced AI models, summed up in five words: “People matter more than AI.” The company on Monday released a 15,000-word manifesto that it views as a constitution for guiding the development of its cutting-edge AI models. The document has been in the works for months, but its release comes as leading AI labs pledge to slow the development of their most advanced models following a series of security incidents and growing concerns about the existential risks posed by the technology.

(Moneycontrol)

BRICS Summit 2026: PM Modi pitches for start-up fund, incubator network: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday proposed that a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund be created to foster greater cooperation among start-ups, incubators and entrepreneurs in the eleven countries that are part of the grouping. Addressing the BRICS Summit here, Modi said an incubator network under the gruping would help create new opportunities for innovation and collaboration and to develop scalable solutions. The proposals come as BRICS seeks to deepen economic and technological cooperation and ensure that innovation is not limited to government-led initiatives.

(Financial Express)

Supreme Court rejects Reliance Communications’ creditors plea to consider spectrum for insolvency: The Supreme Court has dismissed an SBI-led review petition calling for the reconsideration of Reliance Communications’ spectrum as part of the insolvency pool under the IBC code.  In an order dated July 28, Justices PS Narasimha and Atul Chandurkar rejected the plea filed by the Committee of Creditors (CoC) challenging an earlier apex court verdict that excluded spectrum as an “asset” for insolvency and liquidation. The petitioners argued that the asset under consideration was not the spectrum itself but the legally enforceable right to use spectrum.

(Business Line)


Finance Minister meets AIIB chief and discusses opportunities to further deepen ties: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday met Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President Zou Jiay and discussed opportunities to further deepen the India- AIIB partnership. "They discussed opportunities to further deepen the India-AIIB partnership, support India's infrastructure and transport connectivity priorities, enhance local-currency financing, increase private sector participation and global presence of AIIB," the finance ministry said in a post on X. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the two-day BRICS Summit here. The Summit would conclude on Sunday.

(Economic Times)

DFS Wins First Prize under ‘Rajbhasha Kirti’ for 2025-26 at 6th All India Official Language Conference and Hindi Diwas: The Department of Financial Services was awarded the First Prize under 'Rajbhasha Kirti' (in the category of ministries/departments with fewer than 300 personnel) for its outstanding implementation and innovative achievements in the field of Official Language during the year 2025-26. The award was presented during the 6th All India Official Language Conference and Hindi Diwas organised by the Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs.

(Financial Express)

Daughter can inherit father's property despite mother's remarriage: HC: A widow’s remarriage may have affected her own inheritance rights under the old Hindu Succession Act, but it did not wipe out her daughter’s independent right to inherit from her deceased father, the Madras High Court has ruled. The judgment is significant for families dealing with ancestral or joint family property. It is because it makes a clear distinction between the rights of a widow and those of the deceased man’s other Class I legal heirs. 

(Business Standard)


DOUBLE DEFLATION

·     Double deflation is a method used to estimate the real Gross Value Added (GVA) of an industry by separately adjusting its output and intermediate inputs for price changes.

·     Under this method: Nominal output is deflated using an appropriate output price index. Nominal intermediate consumption is deflated using a separate input price index. The difference represents the industry’s real value addition.

·     Importance: Provides a more accurate measurement of real economic growth. Reflects differences between input-cost and output-price inflation. Improves sector-wise GVA estimates, particularly in manufacturing. Helps policymakers assess productivity and structural changes.


RBI KEY RATES

Repo Rate: 5.25%

SDF: 5.00%

MSF /Bank Rate: 5.50%

CRR: 3.00%

SLR: 18.00%

FOREX RATES (RBI REF. RATE)

INR / 1 USD : 95.7245

INR / 1 GBP : 129.4498

INR / 1 EUR : 111.1531

INR /100 JPY: 62.1400

EQUITY INDEX

Sensex: 74781.76 (-120.83)

NIFTY: 23398.10 (-79.70)

Bnk NIFTY: 56606.55 (+134.60)

 

****WISHING A NICE DAY****

 

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