The Banking & Financial Industry in India

The Financial & Banking Industry in India is more than 150 years old. It dates back to 1850s when four Gujaratis and a Parsi stockbroker would gather under the banyan trees which were in front of Mumbai’s town hall.  The meetings continued regularly though at different venues. During this period, the number of brokers increased as well.

Gradually, with the numbers of members increasing, the group moved to Dalal Street in 1874 and in 1875, they became an official organization which came to be known as, ‘The Native Share & Stock Brokers Association.’

In 1956, under the Securities Contracts Regulation Act, the BSE became the first stock exchange which was recognized by the Indian Government.

On the recommendation of the Pherwani Committee in 1991, the National Stock Exchange of India was set up by the then Government of India. It was promoted by leading Financial Institutions essentially led by IDBI on the behest of the Government of India. Incorporated in November 1992, as a tax paying organization, it was recognized as a stock exchange in April 1993 under the securities contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956.

The Banking industry in India is adequately capitalized and regulated. The economic and financial conditions are much better here. Liquidity, credit and market studies have proven Indian banks to be flexible. They have negotiated the ups and downs in the global economy reasonably well.

The RBI or Reserve Bank of India is the topmost body that monitors and governs the banking industry in India.  Any shortcoming or discrepancies in the banking industry are dealt with by the RBI.

Schedule and Non-scheduled banks are a key division of the banking industry in India. There are an approximate 67,000 scheduled bank branches located in India. They consist of co-operative and commercial banks. The Public Sector Banks form the base of the banking sector in India.

The total assets of these public sector banks account for 78% out of the total assets in the banking sector in India. The private sector in banking is slowly making its way up. They are the leaders so far in mobile banking, phone banking, ATM’s and Internet Banking sectors.

With global recession looming large, the investment in the banking industry in India still prevails though the volumes may have gone down considerably. FDI in India grew by a whopping 145% in between 2006 and 2007 and by a decent 46.6% during 2007-2008. The FDI in 2009 was down to 18.6%. However, with the recession extending its session, the investments are liable to rise during this period.

The government of India has started encouraging foreign investment in the banking sector, as a result of which the foreign players will help in the growth of this sector. FDI in Indian Banking may lead to improved efficiency, better capitalization and an improved adaptability.  While the government of India is attracting FDI, FII and NRI investment in this field, the Indian banking and financial industry has immense potential to grow even further and expand.

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The difference between a financial and an investment advisor

Investment Advisor is either a firm or an individual that provides advice or guidance to its clients regarding securities (financial).

It guides and advices on securities such as investment in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or exchange traded funds are investment advisers. Some investment advisers manage portfolios of securities.

The main difference between an investment advisory and a financial planner is that almost all financial planners are investment advisers but not all investment advisers are financial planners. Some financial planners assess every aspect of an individual’s financial life which includes savings, investments, insurance, taxes, retirement and in some cases estate planning as well. After their assessment, they help the individual to develop a detailed strategy, insurance, taxes, retirement and estate planning.

They also help you to develop a strategy or a financial plan for meeting your day to day financial goals.

Before hiring the services of any financial professional, one must know what kind of services is exactly required and what kind of a background does the financial professional hold. After all you are going to invest your hard earned money therefore it is very necessary for you to know everything about your investment advisory.

1)            To how many people do you provide advices regarding investments?

2)            What is your educational background?

3)            With which stock broking organization are you associated with?

4)            Which are the licenses you hold?

5)            What products and services do you offer?

6)            What is the commission that you charge for your services?

Also one needs to know how the investor advisers are paid in order to make better use of the services that are provided to them.

1)            A percentage of the total value of the assets that they manage for you.

2)            An hourly or daily fee on the basis of their handling of your work.

3)            A fixed fee for the services that they offer you.

4)            A commission on the basis of the securities that they buy/sell for you.

5)            A small combination of everything mentioned above.

All the compensation methods have potential benefits and possibly drawbacks, based on your individual needs. You must ask the investment advisory to explain you all the differences thoroughly before you do any business with them.

One must also ask if these service fees are negotiable or they are a onetime fixed amount. Based on your needs and requirements, the investment advisers will provide you with various strategies that will cater to your financial needs.

Indian stock market and companies daily report (June 08, 2012, Friday)

The Indian markets are expected to open in the red tracing negative opening in most of the Asian bourses and the SGX Nifty. Asian stocks were trading lower after comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke overshadowed China’s first interest-rate cut since 2008.
The People’s Bank of China has lowered its benchmark lending and deposit rates by 25 basis points. The announcement, two days before China is due to report inflation, investment and output figures, may signal that the economy is weaker than the government expected. Bernanke said the central bank will need to assess conditions before deciding if more measures are needed to stoke an economy threatened by Europe’s debt crisis and U.S. budget cuts.
Meanwhile Indian shares extended recent gains on Thursday after the rupee breached the 55 mark to hit a two-week high against the dollar reflecting a return of appetite for risk. Talks of the government giving a big push to infrastructure development bolstered sentiments. Although there were reports of the Union Cabinet deferring a decision on the Pension Bill due to lack of consensus, the benchmark indices ended the trading day with significant gains.

Markets Today
The trend deciding level for the day is 16,617/5,039 levels. If NIFTY trades above this level during the first half-an-hour of trade then we may witness a further rally up to 16,713 – 16,777/5,070 – 5,091 levels. However, if NIFTY trades below 16,617/5,039 levels for the first half-an-hour of trade then it may correct up to 16,552 – 16,456/5,018 – 4,987 levels.

China cut borrowing costs
China reduced interest rates for the first time since 2008 and loosened controls on banks’ lending and deposit rates, in its bid to combat a deepening slowdown as Europe’s ongoing debt crisis threatens global growth. The one-year lending rate and one-year deposit rate were reduced by 25bps to 6.31%, and 3.25%, respectively. Banks are now given more leeway to offer upto 10% higher than benchmark deposit rate to depositors and to charge upto 20% lower than the key benchmark lending rate (previously 10%).

RIL plans a capex of Rs.100,000cr over next 4 years
Reliance Industries (RIL) conducted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) for FY2012. With cash and equivalents of ~Rs.80,000cr as of March 31, 2012 on RIL’s balance sheet, Chairman Mr. Mukesh Ambani announced that the company plans to invest Rs.100,000cr across business segments over the coming four years. It targets to invest ~US$3.5bn on shale gas. On its core petrochemical business, RIL aims to increase its capacity to 25mn tonnes from the current 15mn tonnes and also invest in operational efficiency projects. RIL aims to become a market leader in retail business and targets to achieve top-line of Rs.40,000-50,000cr over the next threefour years (current top-line Rs.7,600cr). Further RIL informed that although KG D6 production has declined over the past one year to 34mmscmd, it aims to raise total gas production to 60mmscmd by 2015. On profitability front, Mr. Ambani said that RIL aimed to double its operating profits in the coming five years. RIL has bought back 2.79cr shares at a cost of Rs.1,929cr under its share-buyback program. Alongside decline in KG D6 gas output, deployment of huge cash pile was amongst the key concerns on the stock. Clarity over deployment of cash is positive in our view. We maintain our Buy rating on the stock with a target price of Rs.879.

L&T bags orders worth Rs.2,410cr
L&T’s construction arm has won Rs.2,410cr new orders across various businesses during April-June 2012. The Buildings and Factories IC has secured new orders worth Rs.1,921cr. The orders are from leading developers for the construction of major residential towers across various cities in the northern part of the country. L&T Infrastructure IC has won orders to the tune of Rs.345cr for the design and construction of viaducts and three elevated stations from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation which also includes additional orders from various ongoing projects. Water effluent and treatment business has bagged new orders worth Rs.244cr from Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board for upgrading the existing water distribution systems including additional orders from various ongoing projects.
At the CMP of Rs.1,277, the stock is trading at 16.7x FY2014E earnings and 2.4x FY2014E P/BV on a standalone basis. We have used the SOTP methodology to value the company to capture all its business initiatives and investments/stakes in different businesses. Ascribing separate values to its parent business on a P/E basis and investments in subsidiaries on P/E, P/BV and mcap basis, our target price works out to Rs.1,553, which provides 21.6% upside from current levels. We recommend Buy on the stock.

Economic and Political News
- People’s Bank of China cuts interest rates as economy continues to slide
- Monsoon 36% below average in first week: IMD
- PM's push for infra sector to boost investor confidence: CII
- Cabinet defers decision on pension reforms bill

Corporate News
- Tata Steel to set up Rs.30,000cr plant in Karnataka
- Suzlon to invest Rs.15,000cr to set up a 2,500 MW wind farm in Karnataka
- Dr Reddy's launches generic Parkinson's disease tablets in US
- BHEL commissions 250MW unit at UP thermal power project
- Jubiliant Life Sciences to invest ~Rs.1,000cr across businesses in Karnataka

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Life Insurance Industry in India

Life insurance is a contract bound between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer pledges to pay a designated and fixed sum of money upon the demise of the insured individual. Depending on the contract, various other events like terminal illness or critical illness may also prompt for payment. The policy holder has to pay a premium, either in installments or as a lump sum.

Some times other expenses such as the funeral expenses are also included in the premium.

The main advantage for the policy owner is a “peace of mind” in understanding that the death of the insured individual will not result in any financial difficulties for the loved ones.

Life policies are legal contracts and the terms and conditions of the contract describe the limitations of the insured events. However, specific exclusions are more often not described due to the limit of the liability of the insurer. Some common examples regarding claims such as suicide, fraud, war, riot and civil commotion, etc are not included in cover for claim of life insurance.

Life insurance is the fastest growing sector in India since 2000. The Indian government has given the private players and FDI’s upto 26% stake in the insurance sector. Life insurance in India was nationalized by incorporating LIC in 1956. All private life insurance companies during that time were taken over and governed by LIC.

The government of Republic of India set up the RN Malhotra committee in 1993 to lay down a road map which would lead to privatization of the life insurance sector in India.

Though the committee submitted its report in 1994, it took another 6 years before the legislation was passed in the year 2000, legislation amendment of the insurance act of 1938 took place and legislating the insurance regulatory and development authority act was passed in 2000. In the same year, the newly appointed insurance regulator – insurance regulatory and development authority IRDA began issuing licenses to private life insurance.

Some of the Life insurers in private sector are mentioned below:

•             SBI Life Insurance

•             Metlife India Life Insurance

•             ICICI Prudential Life Insurance

•             Bajaj Allianz Life

•             Max New York Life Insurance

•             Sahara Life Insurance

•             Tata AIG Life

•             HDFC Standard Life

•             Birla Sunlife

•             Kotak Life Insurance

•             Aviva Life Insurance

•             Reliance Life Insurance Company Limited - Formerly known as AMP Sanmar LIC

•             ING Vysya Life Insurance

•             Shriram Life Insurance

•             Bharti AXA Life Insurance Co Ltd

•             Future Generali Life Insurance Co Ltd

•             IDBI Fedaral Life Insurance

•             AEGON Religare Life Insurance

•             DLF Pramerica Life Insurance

•             CANARA HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce LIFE INSURANCE

•             IndiaFirst_Life_Insurance_Company

•             Star Union Dia-ichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd

•             Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance Company Ltd

According to the current FDI norms, foreign participation in an insurance company has been restricted to 26% of its equity. The insurance regulators have stipulated that foreign investment in Indian Insurance companies to be limited to 26% of total equity issued by investment includes foreign insurance companies for a change in regulations to increase the FDI limit by 49%.

The Indian government has agreed to an increase in the FDI limit, which requires a change in the Insurance Act. The union budget for the fiscal year 2005 had suggested that the ceiling on foreign holdings can be increased upto 49%.

A change in the insurance act will require the passing of the bill in both the houses of the parliament.  The Indian government has tabled the bill in the upper house of parliament in August 2010.

At Angel Broking, the financial advisors not only explain all the nuances on Life Insurance but also help the investor in choosing the right Insurance Policy for self. For more details, please contact: Tel: (022) 3935 7600 or SMS EBRO to 5757587.

What are Derivatives and their need in the Indian Share Market

Derivative instrument is a contract between two parties that emphasizes conditions ( including dates that result in values of the underlying variables and notional amounts) under which payments can be made between both the parties.

Derivatives are used by investors for the following reasons:

1)            It provides leverage with a small movement in the underlying value that causes a large difference in the value of the derivative.

2)            One can often speculate and make a profit, if the value of the underlying asset goes in the way they expect.

3)            It mitigates the risk in the underlying, by making an entry in the derivative contract whose value moves in the opposite direction, stays in or out of a specific range and may reach a certain level.

4)            It can obtain exposure to the underlying where it may not be possible to trade in the underlying derivatives.

5)            It has the ability to create options, where the value of the derivative is linked to a specific condition or event.

When Derivatives allow risk related to the prices of the underlying asset to be transferred from one party to another, it is known as Hedging. Both the parties have a reduction in a future risk, however there is still a risk of the non-availability of the resource that may back-track because of the events unspecified by the contract such as natural damage, may cause problems on the contract.

Although a third party, which is also known as a clearing house, it insures a futures contract, not all derivatives can or will be insured against a counter-party risk.

Derivatives are also used to acquire risk, rather than hedging the risk. Thus, some investors or institutions can enter in a derivative contract to speculate on the value of the underlying asset.

These speculations look to purchase an asset in the future at a really low price which according to the derivative contract maybe a high price to sell the asset in the future when the market price is low.

An OTC or over-the-counter derivative is a contract that is privately traded and negotiated between two parties without going through an exchange.

Exchange-traded derivative contracts are those derivatives that can be traded via specialized derivative exchange or other exchanges. There is a market where derivatives exchange acts as an intermediary to all transactions and takes an initial margin from both the sides of the trade to act as a guarantee.

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