The weakest, including those with Viability Ratings in the 'b' range, would face heightened solvency risks without capital injections from the government, the rating agency said
It said GDP (gross domestic product) growth is likely to rebound to 7.1 per cent next year
Fitch said the risks around Macrotech's ability to meet domestic debt maturities of Rs 2,000 crore, Rs 5,000 crore, and Rs 4,600 crore in FY20, FY21, and FY22, respectively, are rising
Any rating below BBB- is junk or below investment grade and the city's largest developer has already been having a junk rating by foreign rating agencies
Finding itself at the centre of the IL&FS controversy, India Ratings on Saturday said its investigation into the role of a senior director at parent firm Fitch's Singapore office found him in violation of the company's code of conduct and he is no longer an employee. The rating agency also defended its rating process, saying its ratings for IL&FS group entities followed a robust and transparent analysis of relevant information including the company's audited financial statements and sought to shift the blame to falsification and sprucing up of the financials by the former top management of the group. It rejected the observations made in a special audit by Grant Thornton of the ratings given by five credit rating agencies, including India Ratings, to some IL&FS entities, in which it has been alleged that the agencies continued to give top ratings despite being aware about weak financials of the group. The audit has also flagged attempts by the erstwhile top management of ...
The Budget proposal of relaxing foreign investment limit in insurance intermediaries will strengthen distribution capabilities and increase international involvement, particularly from developed markets, Fitch Ratings said Monday. The Budget 2019-20 tabled in Parliament on July 5, permitted foreign companies to own up to 100 per cent in insurance intermediaries, including insurance agents, brokers, loss assessors and surveyors, from the 49 per cent, to attract more foreign direct investment into the industry. "India's proposed removal of the foreign-ownership cap on insurance intermediaries is likely to increase competition, strengthen distribution capabilities to enhance insurance penetration and boost M&A in the medium to long term," Fitch Ratings said in a statement. The proposed change is only applicable to insurance intermediaries while the cap on foreign ownership in insurance companies will remain at 49 per cent. Still, the government has indicated that it may take further .
It further said some measures could weigh on growth over time, such as higher import duties on many products to 'provide a level playing field to domestic industry'
The rating action in case of two Indian private banks comes after Fitch lowered its midpoint for India's operating environment to 'bb+' from 'bbb-'
The rating agency said India's economy is expected to grow at 6.8% in the financial year ending March 2020
It forecast Indian rupee to weaken to 75 to a dollar by end of 2019
Fitch Ratings retained India's sovereign rating at BBB-, the lowest investment grade rating last week
The ratings of the three firms, IOC, BPCL and HPCL will be unaffected as they are driven by state support, said Fitch
Fitch said the recent sell-offs in Indian and Indonesian currency markets underline their sensitivity to shifts in global sentiment, and suggest further bouts of pressure are likely
Indian banks need to improve capital base against mounting bad debt and poor financial performance, Fitch said
HMEL's standalone credit profile is at 'BB-', and reflects robust refining operations from its high-complexity refinery, strong profitability and high leverage
Axis Bank's capital buffers are less comfortable for its current rating despite raising of fresh capital
The banks' core capital buffers appear more vulnerable to moderate shocks, the rating agency says
Capital flows to emerging markets may diminish as US and global investors get higher yields on US assets
Deterioration in balance sheets of PSU banks in excess of Fitch expectations may spur rating downgrade, says Thomas Rookmaaker, Director, Sovereign Ratings, Fitch Ratings
The government had made a strong pitch with Fitch for an upgrade in ratings after rival Moody's Investors Service in November last year gave the country its first sovereign rating upgrade since 2004