Bonds slump after RBI’s raises short term interest rates to curb rupee’s volatility

16 Jul 2013 Evaluate

Bond yields soared after Reserve Bank of India, in a bid to address exchange rate volatility, hiked short term rates and tightened liquidity. The RBI increased banks' cost of borrowing short term money through the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and Bank Rate each by 200 basis points (2 per cent) to 10.25 per cent, while limiting its lending of overnight funds to banks to Rs 75,000 crore, which would mean that if banks need more they will have to pay a higher interest rate of 10.25%.

On the global front, U.S. Treasury debt prices rose on Monday as weaker-than-forecast retail sales growth led to expectations of disappointing second-quarter economic growth and raised bets the Federal Reserve might stick its current rate of bond-purchase stimulus. Meanwhile, brent futures held near $109 a barrel on Tuesday as forecasts of a third straight drop in weekly U.S. crude inventories raised hopes of a steady revival in demand growth in the world's biggest oil consumer.

Back home, the yields on 13-year 8.33% - 2026 bonds were trading 40 basis points higher at 8.07% from its previous close of 7.67% on Monday.

Bonds slumped and interest rate swaps surged, while the rupee posted modest gains after the central bank took steps to rein in rupee liquidity, in a move that will raise interest rates in the economy.

The benchmark five-year interest rate swaps were trading 66 basis points higher at 8.25% from its previous close of 7.56% on Monday.

Additionally, ten State Governments have offered to sell dated securities by way of auction for an aggregate amount of Rs 8,600 crore (Face Value) on July 16, 2013.

The Reserve Bank of India has announced the auction of 91 and 182 days Government of India Treasury Bills for notified amount of Rs 7,000 crore and Rs 5,000 crore respectively. The auction will be conducted on July 17, 2013 using 'Multiple Price Auction' method.

The Government of India have announced the sale (re-issue) of four dated securities for Rs 15,000 crore on July 19, 2013  (i) “7.28 percent Government Stock 2019” for a notified amount of Rs 3,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction; (ii) “7.16 percent Government Stock 2023” for a notified amount of Rs 6,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction;(iii) “8.28 percent Government Stock 2032” for a notified amount of Rs 3,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction, and (iv) “8.30 percent Government Stock 2042” for a notified amount of Rs 3,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction. The auctions will be conducted using uniform price method. The auctions will be conducted by the Reserve Bank of India, Fort, Mumbai on July 19, 2013 (Friday).

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