Comments from B Prasanna – Head Global Markets Group, ICICI Bank on RBI Monetary Policy

“The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) delivered a dovish policy, both in rate action and in stance, while sounding sanguine on low inflation expectations. The sharp lowering of inflation forecasts could enable further policy easing in April. In a significant departure from previous commentaries, there was an emphasis on the need to support growth if inflation objectives are achieved and the MPC noted that the slack in the economy is rising. The RBI has also introduced some welcome regulatory changes. The list includes withdrawal of concentration limits in corporate bonds that will promote participation of Foreign Portfolio Investors, rationalization of interest rate derivatives guidelines which will boost depth and liquidity of derivative markets, and the task force on offshore rupee markets that will foster greater participation in Indian assets. The change in risk-weighting of rated exposure to NBFCs, will help strong NBFCs to get credit thereby easing some of the strain being felt currently.”