Moody’s maintains negative outlook for India's banking system

19 Nov 2013 Evaluate

On the back of worries over asset quality and overall economic growth prospects, international rating agency Moody’s has maintained its negative outlook on the country’s banking sector. The agency in its report underscored that bank’s asset quality and profitability are expected to further deteriorate in the backdrop of weak economic outlook, partially because of need to increase loan loss reserves and partially because of their inability to fully pass on rising funding costs or offset these through loan growth.

Further, it blamed the performance of Public Sector Banks (PSBs), for reiteration of its negative stance. According to the agency, PSBs which account for over 70% of the system, are experiencing higher stress in asset quality on non-performing assets and restructured assets. However, Moody’s noted that the picture in the private sector was just contrary to this, with lenders having stronger margins, reserves and capital levels.

In its report, it further added that it expects a rise in non-performing loans and restructured loans in particular at public-sector banks that lend heavily to infrastructure projects, which will also require more injections from government to maintain the capitalization levels.

At the same time, Moody’s opined the systemic support for PSBs to remain strong, as evidenced by recently announced allocations of government funds to bolster capital for them and further expects government's support for this sector to sustain, regardless of the 2014 election outcome.

Meanwhile, in a bit of positive for the economy, the rating agency termed Coal India’s announcement to increase output and lifting the ban on iron ore mining as a positive.

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