RBI announces measure to ease cash crunch in markets

The Reserve Bank of India Thursday allowed banks to dip further into statutory cash reserves in a bid to ease a liquidity squeeze afflicting the nation’s money markets.

RBI in a statement said banks could ‘carve out’ up to 15% of holdings under the statutory liquidity reserves to meet their liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) requirements as compared to 13% now.

This resulted from a rise in the facility to avail funds for LCR to 13% from 11%, effective October 1, RBI said in a statement.

The move by the central bank follows concerns over tight liquidity conditions and banks’ unwillingness to lend to NBFCs.

RBI said it “stands ready to meet the durable liquidity requirements of the system through various available instruments depending on its dynamic assessment of the evolving liquidity and market conditions.”

Citing proactive steps taken in the last few days, RBI said it conducted open market operation (OMO) on September 19 and provided a liberal infusion of liquidity through term repos in addition to the usual provision via the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF).

It further said that another OMO will be conducted Thursday to ensure adequate liquidity in the system.

As of September 26, banks had availed of ₹1.88 lakh crore through term repos from the Reserve Bank, the apex bank said in a statement. “As a result of these steps, the system liquidity is in ample surplus,” it said.

RBI further announced the

relaxation in statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) requirement with effect from October 1, 2018.

“This should supplement the ability of individual banks to avail of liquidity, if required, from the repo markets against high-quality collateral. This, in turn, will help improve the distribution of liquidity in the financial system as a whole,” it said.