Liquidity and asset quality risks for Indian NBFI to continue, says Fitch

Risks due to impact of coronavirus pandemic on borrowers' repayment capabilities and the effects of the moratorium on collections, says ratings agency

India's non-bank financial institutions (NBFI) will continue to face near-term risks related to liquidity and asset quality though economic activity is picking after a nationwide lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic, said Fitch Ratings on Thursday.

The risks reflect the impact of the pandemic on borrowers' repayment capabilities, as well as the effects of the moratorium on collections, Fitch said in a statement.

The cash flow implications of the moratorium have not been uniform across the industry, affecting some NBFI liquidity profiles more materially and placing pressure on their ability to repay or refinance upcoming obligations.

“We expect near-term inflows to remain below