RBI permits banks to tap MSF to boost liquidity in call market

22 Dec 2011 Evaluate

To help banks tide over the existing tight liquidity conditions in the call money market, the Reserve bank of India (RBI) has allowed banks greater flexibility to borrow more funds from the marginal standing facility (MSF), which will help them reduce costs. Banks are now allowed to borrow funds up to 1% below the statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) limits twice under the MSF. It is mandatory for the public sector lenders to invest up to 24% of their net deposits in government bonds.

Earlier in May 2011, banks were allowed to borrow overnight from its MSF (currently at an interest rate of 9.50%) against their excess government securities holdings as an additional liquidity enhancement measure. The apex bank has now allowed banks to borrow from this facility in the second half of the day too to ease liquidity pressures. Banks which have SLR holdings in excess of the mandatory 24% can also avail this facility.

The latest RBI measure on MSF comes at a time when call money rates shot up to trade in 9.45-9.75% range on Wednesday. The tightness in the money markets comes in the wake of outflows from banks due to advance tax payments by India companies on December 15. Further, this move will help to remove volatility in the Collaterised Borrowing and Lending Obligation (CBLO), counter after the closure of the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) window.  Now, after the closure of the LAF counter, banks can choose the CBLO market or the MSF counter, depending on whichever rate is lower, thus placing a limit on the CBLO market at the MSF rate of 9.5%.

This is the third time banks have been using this facility after it was introduced in November 2010. Banks now can take advantage of the arbitrage between MSF and call money. They can borrow from the MSF at 9.50% and deploy the funds in call money at 9.65-9.75%.

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