Issue: 1230
· AI could lead European banks
to cut up to 20% jobs: Morgan Stanley.
· NCDEX has announced the launch
of India’s first rainfall-based weather derivatives contract, called
‘RAINMUMBAI’.
· US inflation rises to 3.8% in
April.
· The Centre is expected to
announce a slew of measures within a week to boost foreign capital inflows and
stem outflows, in a move that will help support the rupee.
· Brent crude slips to $92/bbl
as US-Iran’s ’60 days ceasefire’ deal awaits Trump’s approval.
India’s engineering goods
exports rise 8.8% in April despite fall in shipments to UAE, Saudi Arabia: India’s exports of engineering
goods to West Asia in April 2026, particularly to the UAE and Saudi Arabia,
declined significantly as the US and Israel’s war with Iran disrupted shipping,
but overall exports from the sector posted an 8.78 per cent growth
(year-on-year) to $10.35 billion, per data shared by the Engineering Export
Promotion Council (EEPC). “Among the top exporting countries, exports to the
US, the UK and Germany increased in April 2026 but shipments to the UAE,
Singapore and Saudi Arabia continued to drop,” according to an EEPC India
analysis shared on Thursday.
(Business Line)
Gold in India is 18% more
expensive than global prices: Gold in India has surged
nearly 18% year-to-date in 2026, rising from Rs 1,32,614 to Rs 1,56,229 per ten
grams, while gold in dollar terms has barely moved, gaining just 1.6% over the
same period. The difference between gold
prices in India and international markets has widened sharply since the start
of 2026. The gap is now nearly 18%. Two factors are primarily responsible: a
steep hike in import duty and a weakening Indian rupee against the US dollar. MCX
spot gold has gained Rs 23,615 per ten grams (24 carat) so far in 2026, rising
from Rs 1,32,614 on January 1 to Rs 1,56,229 by May 27, 2026. In comparison,
gold in dollar terms has barely moved — a modest rise from $4,319 to $4,388,
just 1.6% during the same period.
(Financial Express)
Odisha govt to create
dedicated land bank for hospitality sector: The Odisha government will
soon create a dedicated land bank for the hospitality sector to attract more
investment across key tourist destinations in the state for the development of
hotels, resorts, and allied infrastructure.The Expenditure Finance Committee
(EFC), headed by Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra, principal secretary of the finance
department, recently gave its nod to launch a new scheme —Land Bank for
Hospitality Infrastructure for a five-year period from FY27 to FY31. Under the
proposed scheme, around 5,500 acres of government and private land will be
identified, acquired, alienated and brought under the tourism land bank in
major tourism circuits. The state government has proposed an investment of Rs.1,500
crore for the scheme, to be funded entirely through the state budget.
(Business Standard)
IDBI Bank stake sale back
on table; Centre explores revival options: The Centre is exploring ways
to revive the stalled privatisation of IDBI Bank, people familiar with the
matter told ET. The choices include examining whether earlier rejected bids,
from Prem Watsa-led Fairfax Financial Holdings and Emirates NBD, for their failure
to hurdle the reserve price threshold could still be considered, they said. The
bids remain ‘alive’ and the government is examining legal provisions under the
tendering framework that allows for bids to be accepted even if offers are
below the reserve price.
(Economic Times)
Karur Vysya has a
four-pronged plan to move up to the next level: B Ramesh Babu, MD & CEO: Karur Vysya Bank, with a loan
asset portfolio of Rs.99,000 crore, and market capitalisation of around Rs.28,000
crore, has drawn up strategies for faster balance sheet expansion. After a
decade of downsizing the wholesale business, the bank now plans to reverse it
by raising the corporate loan share to 20% in the next two years from 14% at
present, managing director B Ramesh Babu tells Atmadip Ray. It also plans to
enter into the credit card business, and loans against mutual funds are on the
cards, too, as is a renewed focus on microloans.”
(Economic Times)
Supreme Court seeks govt,
RBI response to plea for audit of banks' realty exposure: The Supreme Court has sought
response from the government, the Reserve Bank of India and others on a
petition seeking a direction to the banking regulator to conduct a
"supervisory review or comprehensive audit" of banks' exposure to
real estate projects. The petitioner, a homebuyer, also wants the Enforcement
Directorate to investigate several developers for alleged "diversion and
siphoning" of homebuyers' funds. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant
issued notice to the ministries of housing and urban affairs and corporate
affairs, the Enforcement Directorate, builders such as Jaiprakash Associates
(JAL) and Jaypee Infratech (JIL), Standard Chartered Bank, Yamuna Expressway
Industrial Development Authority and the Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory
Authority among others.
(Economic Times)
Listed banks earned a
record profit of Rs.4 lakh crore in FY26: The consolidated net profit of
listed commercial banks crossed Rs.4 lakh crore for the first time in FY26,
with top three lenders - State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank -
making up more than half the sector's aggregate bottom-line. Overall, private
banks accounted for a slightly higher share of the profits at Rs.2.09 lakh
crore, while state-run banks reported an aggregate net profit of Rs.2.01 lakh
crore. The consolidated net profit of the top three lenders - also designated
as systemically important by the banking regulator - totalled Rs.2.13 lakh
crore. Overall, the banking industry's consolidated net profit rose 4.5% to Rs.4.11
lakh crore, and standalone net profit increased 7.5% to Rs.3.95 lakh crore.
(Economic Times)
HDFC Bank denies
allegations of disguising interest payout: HDFC Bank has strongly denied
allegations of wrongdoing following an investigative report claiming the country's
largest private sector lender disguised Rs.45 crore in differential interest
payments to Maharashtra State Road Development Corp (MSRDC) as marketing
expenditure on a road safety awareness campaign. The stock slumped. "The bank has robust internal oversight,
audit and control processes and systems. All issues are dealt with in
accordance with the bank's established norms, and full process is always
followed before final determination post any internal review. We strongly
reject any assumptions of wrongdoing or culpability based on selective
material," the bank said in a statement.
(Economic Times)
RBI set to unveil polymer
rupee notes amid rising currency demand: RBI?has revived the idea of
printing polymer banknotes for circulation to meet the surge in demand for
currency notes in the last few years. According to multiple sources aware of
the development, the issue of introducing polymer or plastic notes was
discussed in the last two board meeting of the central bank, held in Patna and
Mumbai.The decision has been taken in view of perceived advantages in the cost
of production and the higher shelf life of such currency notes. A pilot project
involving plastic banknotes for public use is expected to be announced soon.
(Business Standard)
Dr Reddy’s to ring NYSE
Closing Bell to mark 25 years of listing: Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has been invited to
ring the Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to celebrate 25 years
of its listing on the NYSE. In April 2001, Dr Reddy’s became the first
pharmaceutical company in Asia, outside Japan, to be listed on the NYSE. “Twenty-five
years on the NYSE is more than a listing anniversary; it is a reaffirmation of
our commitment to global governance, transparency, and innovation,” Satish
Reddy, Chairman, Dr Reddy’s, said in a release on Thursday.
(Business Line)
Mukesh Ambani skips drawing
salary for 6th year in a row: Mukesh Ambani has foregone his salary from
Reliance Industries for the sixth consecutive year, even as the conglomerate
reported its highest-ever consolidated net profit in FY2025-26. The 68-year-old
chairman and managing director drew nil in salary, allowances, perquisites and
retiral benefits for the year ended March 31, 2026, according to the company’s
latest annual report. Ambani first gave up his remuneration in June 2020,
citing the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has voluntarily
continued to do so every year since. Before the pandemic, Ambani had kept his annual
compensation capped at Rs 15 crore since FY2008-09, a figure that remained
unchanged for 11 straight years. However, he is generating dividend income of
roughly Rs 3,987 crore, as per PTI.
(Financial Express)
Non-banks increase
microfinance share amid muted demand: Non-bank lenders last month expanded their
loan share in the microfinance segment that, however, shrank in aggregate due to
a 5% month-on-month exposure drop by private lenders through what's seen as a
traditionally muted period for credit, data from Equifax showed. The overall microfinance gross loan portfolio
stood at Rs.3.34 lakh crore at the end of April, down from Rs.3.39 lakh crore a
month ago, said the credit information company. Lenders attributed this to the
typical slack first quarter pattern when credit demand remains muted. Before
this, the microfinance market showed a rebound after seven successive quarters
of intense portfolio contraction following asset quality stress.
(Economic Times)
Development Bank of Japan
makes first real estate investment in India: Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ) has made
its first real estate investment in India by committing capital to the HDFC
Capital Development of Real Estate Affordable and Mid-Income Fund (H-DREAM
Fund), managed by HDFC Capital Advisors, the real estate private equity arm of
the HDFC Group. The investment, the size of which was not disclosed, marks a
milestone in DBJ’s international investment strategy and comes amid growing
participation by Japanese investors in India’s financial and real estate
sectors, a joint statement by DBJ and HDFC Capital noted.
(Business Standard)
RBI platform for unclaimed
deposits exposed sensitive user data: RBI platform meant to help
users recover unclaimed bank deposits exposed sensitive personal information
online, allowing anyone with a mobile number and one-time password to access
details of thousands of dormant accounts, according to an independent
researcher whose findings were later corroborated by Mint. The platform, Unclaimed Deposits Gateway to
Access Information (Udgam), which has 30 participating banks, allowed users
until 25 May to register and search records of unclaimed deposits in dormant
bank accounts. Search fields included users’ names, residential addresses, bank
names, and unclaimed deposits reference numbers (UDRNs), which can be used to
initiate claims with banks.
(Mint)
Operational
control driving insurance M&As rather than FDI limit hike: The recent spate of deal activity in the
insurance sector is being driven less by the increase in foreign direct
investment (FDI) limit to 100% from 74%, and more by the enabling provision
allowing foreign investors to have management and operational control of these
companies, experts said. Most foreign investment has come from existing players
in the Indian market looking to expand their presence, rather than from new
investors. This has led to the collapse of several existing partnerships, as
foreign investors look for partners offering equal, if not greater, control.
Several industry experts Mint spoke to said this could pave the way for more competition
and further consolidation in the sector. Allianz SE, which exited its 26% stake
in the insurance and general insurance joint ventures (JVs) with the Bajaj
Group in March 2025, returned to the market through a 50:50 JV with Jio
Financial Services. Prudential Plc has announced plans to acquire a 75% stake
in Bharti AXA Life Insurance, marking a strategic departure from its existing
21% position in ICICI Prudential Life Insurance–which in turn will need to be
brought down to 10%.
(Mint)
DARPG Launches
NeSDA 2025 Portal to Strengthen Digital Governance Across India: The Department of Administrative Reforms
and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India, launched the Portal for the
National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA), 2025. The portal was
launched in a meeting with the Nodal Officers of Central Ministries and
States/UTs on 25.05.2026. Smt. Sarita Chauhan, Additional Secretary, DARPG
chaired the meeting to present a detailed walkthrough and demonstration of the
NeSDA 2025 Portal, covering the assessment framework, portal functionalities,
submission workflows, reporting mechanisms and timelines for the assessment
process.
(PiB)
Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Code (IBC) completes 10 years: The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)
which came into force in 2016 has completed 10 years of its existence today. A
decade since its enactment, the Code has emerged not merely as a legislative
reform, but as an institutional transformation with far-reaching implications
for credit markets, corporate behaviour, investor confidence, and economic
efficiency. This is evident from the fact that, as of
March 2026, 1,419 cases had yielded resolution plans. The resolution process
has facilitated realisation of over Rs.4 lakh crore for creditors. This
realisation to the creditors is 95% and 167% as against their fair and
liquidation value, respectively. Till March 2026, a total of 8,987 cases
has been admitted, with 7,102 had reaching closure. Of these closed cases,
while 4,099 companies- around 58% of these closures were successfully rescued,
another 3,003 cases culminated in liquidation.
(PiB)
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user generated content or new articles or false advertisements, which are
designed to blend in with the rest of an interface in order to trick customers
into clicking on them.
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example, sending push notifications through mobile application or emails that
appear to be urgent account alerts or important updates but, in effect, are
advertisements for new services or promotions, such as, "Important: Your
account might benefit from this new feature!".
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 : 95.7883
INR
/ 1 GBP : 128.8021
INR
/ 1 EUR : 111.4937
INR
/100 JPY: 60.1100
EQUITY INDEX
Sensex:
75867.80 (-141.90)
NIFTY:
23907.15 (-6.55)
Bnk NIFTY: 54853.85 (-239.05)
Historical
events: May 29th marks
iconic milestones, notably in 1953 when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay
became the first people to conquer Mount Everest. In Indian history, it is
celebrated for Dara Singh winning the World Wrestling Championship in 1968 and
the passing of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh in 1987.
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