Credit growth in the banking sector surpassed deposit growth in early September, although it lagged behind the previous year s expansion. This slowdown is attributed to factors like muted private sector capital expenditure and reduced lending to corporates. Lenders anticipate a surge in retail credit demand during the upcoming festival season, with overall credit growth projected at 11-12% for FY26.

The Hyderabad NCLT has approved a ₹2,400 crore OTS plan by Gayatri Projects promoters, resolving ₹8,100 crore in dues to lenders led by Canara Bank. With 97% lender approval, the promoters have 90 days to pay ₹750 crore, cover bank guarantee invocations, and allocate ₹450 crore from arbitration claims.

India requires a substantial $4.5 trillion infrastructure investment by 2030 to maintain its desired growth. Sivasubramanian Ramann highlighted the shift in financing from banks to pension and insurance funds, better suited for long-term projects. Regulatory reforms and wider use of credit enhancement schemes are expected to boost credit flow and bond issuance for infrastructure companies.

The Indian rupee weakened, reversing gains due to Asian currency weakness and uncertainty surrounding US interest rate policy after the Federal Reserve s rate cut. Despite the cut, cautious forward guidance from the Fed and concerns over US tariffs and weak equity inflows weighed on the rupee. Optimism arose from potential resolution of the India-US tariff dispute.

Following the US Federal Reserve s rate cut, anticipation surrounds the potential return of foreign capital to Indian equities. However, high valuations in India and attractive opportunities in markets like China may temper inflows. While foreign selling has slowed, a significant turnaround hinges on domestic institutional investor activity and improved earnings momentum to shift FPI sentiment.

Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra addressed state finance secretaries. He highlighted the importance of sticking to the borrowing calendar for state bonds. Malhotra emphasized fiscal discipline to boost economic growth. States need to improve spending quality. He also urged prudence in off-budget borrowings. These measures are crucial for sustainable financial health.

Sebi has settled proceedings with Motilal Oswal Financial Services regarding a case of suspected front-running by the Chaturvedi Group, linked to a large client s trades. The brokerage paid ₹34.85 lakh as settlement charges. The regulator alleged the firm failed to maintain proper order records and attempted to create supporting documents post-execution, leading to a show-cause notice earlier this year.

NaBFID, having sanctioned ₹2 lakh crore in projects, is urged to enhance expertise and systems for long-term infrastructure viability, according to M Nagaraju. He suggested NaBFID act as a transaction advisor, mitigating early-stage risks to attract commercial investment. Focus should be on urban infrastructure and water, developing standards and engaging with states to improve project bankability.

Markets showed volatility but maintained a positive trend. Adani Group stocks are in focus as Sebi dismissed allegations in the Hindenburg case. Indian Hotels clarified its leasehold rights for The Pierre hotel. Bombay Dyeing appointed Rohit Santhosh as CEO of Bombay Realty, while Oil India anticipates the restart of a Mozambique LNG project by year-end.

SEBI is looking to attract a wider range of investors, including mutual funds, pension funds, and retail participants, to the infrastructure sector to boost liquidity in infrastructure securities. Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey highlighted the need for expedited asset monetisation by state governments and cautioned against over-reliance on banks and government funding, advocating for market-based instruments to diversify risk.