India Economics Update Drop in inflation not enough to prompt rate cut Consumer price inflation is likely to have dropped in May, but not by enough to bring it below the RBI’s 5.0% target for March 2017. 8th June 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update RBI holds rates, loosening cycle likely at an end The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept its repo rate on hold at 6.50% today and, while the consensus is expecting further modest loosening later this year, we think that rates will remain unchanged... 7th June 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Another look at the ailing banking sector The sharp rise in non-performing loans (NPLs) in Q1 does not indicate that there has been a sudden deterioration in asset quality in India, but instead suggests a greater recognition of stressed... 30th May 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Rupee to weaken only gradually The Indian rupee has weakened against the US dollar over the past month and, with the US Fed likely to tighten policy again over the coming months, the currency could depreciate a little more . But... 24th May 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update State election results brighten reform outlook Regional parties have dominated the state elections held over the past month, but there has also been an apparent strengthening of support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP at the local level. On... 19th May 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Tax amendments another success for Modi government Recent amendments to the tax treaty between India and Mauritius - the terms of which have made Mauritius the leading source of foreign investment into India - are likely to bring more benefits than... 17th May 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Import weakness to keep trade deficit in check India’s monthly trade deficit narrowed to a five-year low in April. With a number of factors likely to keep commodity imports in check, the overall current account position is unlikely to return as a... 16th May 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Bankruptcy reform would be a major step forward The Lok Sabha’s vote in favour of an overhaul of India’s archaic bankruptcy laws is a step towards creating a more friendly business environment and easing constraints in the banking sector. What’s... 10th May 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Inflation to remain close to target We think that consumer price inflation held steady April as the recent slowdown in food inflation appears to have run its course. With inflation only just below the RBI's 5.0% target for March 2017... 5th May 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Inflation to remain close to target We think that consumer price inflation held steady April as the recent slowdown in food inflation appears to have run its course. With inflation only just below the RBI's 5.0% target for March 2017... 5th May 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Assessing the impact of a strong monsoon Early forecasts of a stronger-than-normal monsoon in India this year have raised hopes of a boost to GDP growth and a drop in inflation as agricultural production gets ramped up. But the early... 28th April 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update What would the impact be if Governor Rajan stepped down? Indian media has been awash with reports that RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan might not have his contract renewed when his term expires in September. In the unlikely case that this occurs, financial... 25th April 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Bond market rally could soon run out of steam Yields on India's local currency debt have fallen so far in April to their lowest in nearly three years. But with the scope for further monetary loosening now looking limited, we think that yields are... 21st April 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Government faces uphill task to meet export target The narrowing in India's trade deficit to a six-year low in FY15/16 is welcome news, but this masks the fact that exports slumped by over 15% last year. With progress on the reforms needed to create a... 19th April 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Maturing FX swaps unlikely to rattle markets Recent concerns over a potential market sell-off when the Reserve Bank‘s FX swap facilities, unveiled during the 2013 “taper tantrum”, mature have been overstated. For a start, the RBI has already... 18th April 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Is consumer spending about to take off? Following years of weakness, there are signs that private consumption in India is finally finding its feet. Cyclical factors such as looser monetary policy should help to support the nascent recovery... 14th April 2016 · 1 min read