RBI tweaks CRR to ease liquidity

Mumbai, Sept. 27: The Reserve Bank of India on 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 per cent of holdings under the statutory liquidity reserves to meet their liquidity coverage ratio ( LCR) requirements as compared to 13 per cent now.

This resulted from a rise in the facility to avail funds for LCR to 13 per cent from 11 per cent, 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.”

Keki Mistry, vice- chairman and chief executive of the mortgage major HDFC, has urged RBI to open a separate liquidity window for mutual funds to meet redemption pressures.

“There is fear in the market that mutual funds may see more redemptions, which can lead to a financial crisis. So, if the RBI were to come out with a special window for MFs it can enable them to borrow money, like a repo window and that will go a long way in assuaging concerns,” the HDFC vicechairman said.

There is fear in the market that mutual funds may see more redemptions, which can lead to a financial crisis. So special window for MFs can enable them to borrow money — KEKI MISTRY Vice- chairman, HDFC