CREDIT RISKS
S&P affirms Reliance Industries' 'A-' credit rating, cites Jio listing, stronger earnings
S&P Global Ratings has affirmed Reliance Industries’ (RIL) ‘A-’ long-term issuer credit rating with a stable outlook, citing resilient earnings, strong cash generation and improved funding flexibility following the listing of Jio Platforms.
IKF Finance sets Rs 25,000 crore AUM target for 2030
The company has broadened its financial services beyond vehicle loans, which opens up new avenues for growth. With a seasoned leadership team at the helm, IKF prioritizes good governance and credit discipline.
ETMarkets Smart Talk| FDs, government bonds or debt mutual funds: How should investors choose in today's market?
In this edition of ETMarkets Smart Talk, we speak with Siddharth Chaudhary, Head – Fixed Income, Bajaj Asset Management Limited, who shares his outlook on interest rates, bond yields and liquidity, and explains how investors can navigate the changing fixed-income landscape while balancing returns, risk and liquidity needs.
China's 'Lipstick King' touts AI tokens in first for Singles' Day festival
The launch is the first time AI token packages have been offered as a significant consumer product category during Singles' Day, the world's largest shopping festival originally held on November 11 each year.
India's data centre capacity set for 5x surge by 2030
By March 2030, India’s data centre capacity is projected to soar to 7.5 gigawatts, fueled by escalating demand from global hyperscalers and the emergence of generative artificial intelligence. However, challenges such as power infrastructure and project execution timing loom large. To mitigate these risks, pre-commitments and long-term contracts are essential, alongside the industry's flexibility to adapt to changing computing needs, which will dictate its future profitability.
China to expand global access to yuan assets, promote Hong Kong as offshore hub
China plans to expand global access to yuan-denominated assets and strengthen Hong Kong's role as an offshore yuan hub. Meanwhile, regulators flagged risks from surging AI investments, warning of rising leverage, higher borrowing costs and financial instability.
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Institutional investors step up bets on private credit as insurers, pension funds and DFIs back new funds
Institutional investors are now allocating more funds to private credit, significantly from insurance companies and pension funds. Neo Alternative Asset Managers has seen its second fund receive 22-25% contributions from these investors. Ascertis Credit's fourth fund also attracted commitments exceeding $700 million from multiple institutional investors. With increased interest in private credit, annual investment opportunities are now estimated around ₹1 lakh crore.
China lowers funding costs with shift to overnight policy rate
China's central bank has implemented a major alteration to its monetary policy by establishing an overnight lending rate, which injects substantial liquidity into the banking sector. This initiative seeks to alleviate costs for financial entities and stimulate economic growth in light of increased credit risks. Experts estimate this change could lower interest rates by 15 basis points, thereby maintaining profitability among financial institutions.
Banks are safe; AI bubble is the risk for global markets: Julius Baer CEO Stefan Bollinger
Stefan Bollinger highlights the potential risk of an AI bubble affecting global markets significantly. He notes that India's equity valuation correction is healthy, maintaining the country's growth story. Investors are increasingly diversifying their portfolios with a focus on hedge funds and private equity. The Fed's decision on rates remains uncertain, though high inflation complicates matters. Rising yields in Japan are likely to attract domestic investors back to their markets.
Banks seek microloan guarantee extension
IDFC First Bank and small finance banks such as AU, Jana and Suryoday were among the biggest users of the scheme to reduce credit risk. They have set aside the guarantee fee for the current fiscal year, expecting the government to reopen the window soon, people aware of the matter said.
Cyberattacks on banks, including AU Small Finance Bank, worry insurers as claim risks rise
Cyberattacks targeting financial institutions have raised concerns about security vulnerabilities and potential losses. AU Small Finance Bank is investigating a possible data breach involving customer information stored on Salesforce. Insurers have recently reported an increase in cyber incidents affecting banks and manufacturers over the past few months. The extent of these breaches and the impacted customer count are still under investigation.
GST reforms: Easier registration for small e-commerce sellers, faster refunds to take effect Nov 1
Simplified GST registration processes will benefit small sellers using e-commerce platforms without physical presence in multiple states. The GST portal will offer user-friendly interfaces and clearer documentation requirements for registration applications. Automatic sanctioning of full refund claims for excess balance in electronic cash ledgers will expedite the refund process. Flexibility in post-supply discount taxation will support industries with volume-based incentives and trade schemes.
Besides the bubble, a big AI risk could be growing in the shadows
Investors are worried about potential financial risks linked to Big Tech's investments in AI infrastructure. The technology sector recently experienced a significant sell-off, indicating growing nervousness among shareholders. S&P Global predicts considerable expenses on data centres for major companies like Amazon and Microsoft through 2030.
Niti Aayog's Lahiri flags growth risks in case of further monetary policy tightening
In India, it's essential for policymakers to harmonize growth output with inflation expectations. Niti Aayog’s Ashok Lahiri pointed out the importance of addressing inflation alongside job creation. He urged banks to play a pivotal role in linking enterprises with financial support and investment options. To capitalize on its natural resources, West Bengal must focus on industry attraction, while effective land acquisition and good infrastructure remain key for business development.
RBI deliberates economic risks at 625th Central Board meeting chaired by Governor Sanjay Malhotra
The Reserve Bank of India conducted its 625th Central Board meeting under Governor Sanjay Malhotra. The board reviewed economic conditions and potential risks facing India’s economy while evaluating the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation’s activities. Additionally, the board members participated in the Integrity Pledge as part of Vigilance Week 2026. Deputy Governors and other board members contributed to the discussions during the meeting.
Global Market: Wall Street's top asset managers bet big on AI infrastructure boom
Wall Street’s leading alternative asset managers are ramping up investments in AI infrastructure, betting on long-term leases and creditworthy tenants to secure predictable returns. However, rising debt levels among neoclouds and concerns over AI spending returns are bringing private credit risks into focus.
Can smaller manufacturers afford to export to new markets?
Winning an international order is only half the battle for Indian MSMEs. Financing production, managing longer payment cycles and offering competitive credit terms can be equally challenging.
Companies with high credit ratings shifting to bond market as bank loans become dearer
In the current economic climate, AAA-rated corporations are opting to secure financing via the bond market, finding it more cost-effective than traditional bank loans. The recent interest rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of India have further enhanced the appeal of bonds. Companies like REC and SIDBI have successfully tapped into this market.
Banks worry more about geopolitics than borrowing costs, survey shows
Geopolitical risks and supply-chain disruptions are major barriers to private sector capital expenditure growth. A survey indicates that banks anticipate over 9% growth in industrial credit in the coming months. Public sector banks exhibit greater concern over these risks compared to private and foreign banks. Key sectors expected to experience credit demand include infrastructure and auto components.
Agentic AI can cut banks' transaction monitoring workload by up to 50%, improve compliance quality: McKinsey
Banks could reduce the human effort required for transaction monitoring investigations by 30-50% by deploying agentic artificial intelligence (AI), while improving the quality and consistency of compliance reports, according to a report by McKinsey.
Best gilt mutual funds to invest in October 2026
Mutual fund experts posit that aggressive debt investors might want to consider gilt funds as a way to obtain superior returns. As interest rates decline, the prospect of double-digit returns from these funds becomes more plausible. Nevertheless, gilt funds carry risks linked to interest rate fluctuations, making them appropriate only for savvy investors. Aiming for a long-term horizon is crucial, and monitoring rate shifts is highly advised.
AI bubble bursting or just letting out air? Neoclouds may offer clues
Elon Musk has warned that over 200 neocloud companies may face significant challenges, including potential failures and consolidation. Despite high demand for AI computing capacity, rising credit costs impact the financial stability of these companies. Research firm Gartner anticipates that more than 80% of neocloud providers may cease independent operations by 2030. Tighter credit conditions could restrain excessive AI spending without affecting overall investment growth.
AI financing driving private credit growth as refinancing risks rise, Moody's says
The ratings agency said AI financing needs now extend beyond data-center construction to land, power, semiconductors, graphics processing units and tensor processing units.
Best corporate bond mutual funds to invest in October 2026
Corporate bond mutual funds invest at least 80% of their corpus in the papers of the highest-rated companies. This makes them relatively safer than other debt schemes such as credit risk funds. They are also safer than gilt funds and long term debt funds that are highly sensitive to interest rate changes in the economy.
Digital payments mandatory for liquor purchases above Rs 1,000 in Tamil Nadu from November 1: Check what changes
Tamil Nadu’s state-run TASMAC will make digital payments mandatory for liquor purchases exceeding Rs 1,000 from November 1. Customers can pay through UPI, debit cards or credit cards, while cash payments will remain an option for purchases within the limit. The move aims to improve transaction transparency, address complaints of overcharging above the maximum retail price (MRP) and reduce risks associated with handling cash across the state’s 4,048 liquor outlets.
ETMarkets Smart Talk: Bond yields may rise further over the next few months; avoid aggressive duration and credit bets: Suyash Choudhary
In this episode of ETMarkets Smart Talk, Suyash Choudhary, CIO–Fixed Income at Bandhan AMC, explains why Indian bond yields could rise further over the next few months and why investors should avoid aggressive bets on duration and credit risk.
Debt investing strategies: How laddering, barbell, bullet and other strategies work
Cutting through money jargon, one topic at a time. This week, Sanket Dhanorkar explains fixed income investing strategies and which ones suit which investors.
Best banking & PSU mutual funds to invest in October 2026
Mutual fund advisors say banking & PSU debt schemes are ‘relatively’ safe because these schemes invest only in bonds and papers of banks and public sector companies. Since most of these entities are government-backed, they don’t have the credit risk.
Insurance commission: NBFCs seek 5-year transition period to reduce selling fee
The industry body of NBFCs has told the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) that the proposed commission caps of 2% for credit life and 5% for credit health insurance would make credit-linked insurance distribution unviable, given distribution costs are about 32% of the premium.
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