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<ul><li>The reliability of FDs is appealing to seniors as they generally have a lower risk tolerance and prioritise capital preservation over high returns. </li><li><keyword id="20566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="senior-citizens" source="Orion">Senior citizens</keyword> usually get a slightly higher interest in FDs. </li><li>FDs can help senior citizens effectively manage liquidity as well as <keyword id="37018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rate" source="Orion">interest rate</keyword> risk. </li></ul>Senior citizens often prefer investing in <keyword id="6377620" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fixed-deposits" source="Orion">fixed deposits</keyword> (FDs) due to the safety and stability these instruments offer. FDs provide a secure investment avenue with a guaranteed return on the principal amount, making them a low-risk option, especially for retirees seeking steady income streams. The reliability of FDs is appealing to seniors as they generally have a lower risk tolerance and prioritise capital preservation over high returns. The ease of FD investment, with options for short or long-term deposits, aligns well with the financial planning needs of seniors, providing them with a sense of financial security and a dependable source of income during retirement. Between May 2022 and February 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (<keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword>) raised the repo rate by a cumulative 2.5%. This significant increase was a major driver of higher <keyword id="418668" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fd-rates" source="Orion">FD rates</keyword> throughout 2023. Even though the RBI has maintained status quo henceforth, FD rates continue to remain on the higher side, thus making them attractive. “Senior citizens usually get 50 to 100 bps more interest than the general public by investing in fixed deposits. But the interest income is taxable at the hands of investors if the tenure is less than 5 years,” says Abhishek Kumar, founder and chief<a href="https://business.outlookindia.com/invest/investment"> </a>investment advisor at SahajMoney, a financial planning firm. Sr Citizen FD rates at a glance <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#1465c9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bank Name </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#1465c9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Less than 1 year </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#1465c9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1 year to 5 years </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#1465c9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">More than 5 years </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">SBI </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">3.50% p.a. to 6.25% p.a. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.00% p.a. to 7.50% p.a. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.50% p.a. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Punjab National Bank </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">4.00% p.a. to 6.75% p.a. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.25% p.a. to 7.75% p.a. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.30% p.a. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bank of Baroda </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">3.50% to 6.75% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.25% p.a. to 7.75% p.a. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.50% p.a. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">HDFC Bank </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">3.50% p.a. to 6.50% p.a. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.10% p.a. to 7.65% p.a. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.75% p.a. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Axis Bank </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">3.50% p.a to 6.50% p.a </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.20% p.a. to 7.60% p.a. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.68181825pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.75% </td></tr></tbody></table> What to keep in mind When investing in FDs, senior citizens need to take a few things into account. When the rates are good, one can lock in some of their savings into FDs. “I advise senior citizens against locking all their disposable funds into FDs particularly of just one tenor,” says Akshar Shah, Founder, Fixed Invest, a digital marketplace of banks and NBFCs. “Senior citizens can use FD laddering to effectively manage liquidity as well as interest rate risk where they divide their savings into FDs of different tenors across years,” he adds. FD laddering involves diversifying FDs into multiple accounts with varying maturity dates. Instead of investing a lump sum in a single FD, individuals distribute their funds across different FDs maturing at different intervals—short-term, medium-term, and long-term. As each FD reaches maturity, it can be reinvested or withdrawn as needed, providing regular access to funds while potentially benefiting from higher interest rates on longer-term deposits. This strategy offers liquidity, steady returns, and flexibility in managing financial goals.

Senior citizen FDs: With interest rates at a high, time to park safe

The Indian mutual fund industry continued to register strong growth in fund inflows during May 2024, as monthly data released by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) today showed. This was a record month for equity mutual funds, with the category’s inflows jumping up by a whopping 83% since April. The mutual fund industry’s AUM (net assets under management) stood at Rs 58.91 lakh crore, rising marginally from Rs 57.25 lakh crore in April 2024. With total inflows worth Rs 42,294.99 crore, debt mutual funds continued to receive more investor attention than their equity counterparts during the month, which saw inflows of around Rs 34,697 crore. Notably, this is the 39th consecutive month where <keyword id="19925781" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="equities" source="keywords">equities</keyword> have seen positive inflows. Hybrid funds also ended their month in green, garnering Rs 17,990 crore in May. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Expectations around election results behind the surge, say experts" comment="subhead" text="Expectations around election results behind the surge, say experts">Expectations around election results behind the surge, say experts</cmsannotation> Expectations around the continuation of a stable regime led by the ruling party BJP during the election month of May could have been the major driver behind the record inflows into the MFs. Venkat Chalasani, Chief Executive, AMFI, said "Political stability creates an environment conducive to sustainable economic growth, attracting investments and fostering long-term investments. Global growth is sustaining its momentum in 2024 and is likely to remain resilient, supported by a rebound in global trade. The overall outlook for Indian capital markets remains positive, supported by strong fundamentals, and favourable demographics. However, it remains to be seen how the lesser-than-expected seats for the Narendra Modi-led BJP have impacted the MF sector in the month of June. However, a continuation of the NDA regime is likely to have contributed to the improved market sentiments as evident with surging markets post the counting day, and could reflect into the MF activity as well. "Although coalition governments face challenges in consensus-building and decision-making, infrastructure and nation-first initiatives introduced earlier are likely to receive support from allies across the political spectrum. The forthcoming 100-day action plan and a comprehensive Union Budget will provide a clearer picture of the government's priorities for the Indian economy," says Gopal Kavalireddi, Vice President of Research at FYERS. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Equity inflows mark a record high" comment="subhead" text="Equity inflows mark a record high"><keyword id="421833" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Equity-inflows" source="Orion">Equity inflows</keyword> mark a record high</cmsannotation> Equity inflows remained positive for the 39th consecutive month, starting from March 2021. Growth Equity fund inflows for the month of May was ₹ 34,697, pushing the total inflows into mutual funds to Rs.1.1 lakh crore for the month. A total of 9 schemes were launched last month in the category of open-ended schemes, raising a total of ₹ 10,140 crores, said AMFI. Kavalireddi says, “Despite potential high volatility from FII selling, general elections, GDP data, and other minor events in May, investors remained steadfast in their pursuit of returns on the back of the Indian growth narrative." In a clear indication of investors looking to diversify their investments, multi-cap funds garnered Rs 2,644.88 crore. Large-cap funds amassed Rs 663 crore, while mid-cap funds made Rs 2,605.70 crore. On the other hand, small-cap funds have seemingly begun gaining their lost sheen, managing to take in Rs 2,724.67 crores during the month. Flexi-cap funds led the troupe, with inflows worth Rs 3,155 crore. "Equity flows have been largely driven by expectations of the election outcome, coupled with some NFO (new fund offer) launches, which perhaps led to a much higher than expected quantum in the equity category. On the equity side, investors possibly wanted to position their portfolios in advance to avoid any kind of gap risk as election exit polls were coming out over the weekend, which could have led to a spike in equity allocations towards the end of the month," Anand Vardarajan, Head Business Head – Banking, Institutional Clients, Alternate Products and Product Strategy, Tata Asset Management. Amidst hybrid funds, the majority came from arbitrage funds, which saw inflows worth Rs 12,758.12 crores in May. Notably, index funds and other ETFs collectively raked in Rs. 15,180 crore. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="SIPs going strong" comment="subhead" text="SIPs going strong"><keyword id="159805" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SIPs" source="Orion">SIPs</keyword> going strong</cmsannotation> Systematic investment plan (SIP) contributions continued to breach their record highs on a month-on-month basis. SIP contributions rose marginally to an all-time high of Rs 20.90 crore last month, as opposed to Rs 20.37 crore in April. SIP accounts also jumped to their highest figure in May, standing at 8,75,89,485. During the month, around 49,74,400 new SIPs were registered. As per <keyword id="1029773" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AMFI-data" source="Orion">AMFI data</keyword>, SIP plans accounted for 19% of the net flows during the month. In the debt category, liquid funds saw the most influx, worth Rs 25,873.38 crore. Sectoral or thematic funds amassed Rs 19,213.43 crore during the month, trumping inflows by small-cap funds, which stood at Rs 2,724.67 crore, by a significant margin. Inflows into thematic funds were largely bolstered by the NFO of HDFC Manufacturing Fund, which drew Rs. 9,563 crores. Although Himanshu Srivastava, Associate Director, Manager Research, Morningstar Investment Research India, has a word of caution for all those flocking to sectoral funds, “investors must be cautious while investing in such funds. They are cyclical, and hence investors should have the necessary skills or the right set of advice in place to track sector dynamics and time their entry and exit from these funds. These are high-risk return propositions, and hence investors must take a judicious call while investing in them.” <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Gold continues to shine" comment="subhead" text="Gold continues to shine">Gold continues to shine</cmsannotation> The quantum of net flows in <keyword id="20050894" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold-ETFs" source="keywords">gold ETFs</keyword> saw a sharp uptick to Rs 827 crore in May 2024, from a net outflow of Rs 396 crore in April. Srivastava further notes that the enduring <keyword id="19950651" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-inflation" source="keywords">global inflation</keyword>, which remains above central banks' comfort levels, and the persistent uncertainty surrounding <keyword id="19962135" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rate-cuts" source="keywords">interest rate cuts</keyword> have bolstered gold's appeal as a haven and as a hedge against inflation, thereby attracting more investors. “Also, over the years, gold has gained prominence as an effective diversifier, prompting many investors to include gold ETFs in their portfolios. <keyword id="19910265" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold-prices" source="keywords">Gold prices</keyword> also saw some corrections in May, which spurred buying from investors. In INR terms, gold has done fairly well over the last year but dwarfs in comparison to how equities have fared. Given this backdrop, flows in the gold ETF category have been somewhat patchy relative to the equity asset class," he continued. Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. We recommend readers consult certified, qualified and registered advisors for professional and personalised financial advice.

Election fever? Equities and SIP inflows mark record highs in May, per AMFI data

In a significant move, the <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reserve-bank-of-india" source="keywords">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) has imposed penalties on <keyword id="19952948" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="axis-bank" source="keywords">Axis Bank</keyword> and <keyword id="19895995" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hdfc-bank" source="keywords">HDFC Bank</keyword> for lapses in regulatory and statutory compliance. The fines, which amount to a total of ₹2.91 crore, highlight the central bank's ongoing efforts to ensure that financial institutions adhere to prescribed guidelines. The RBI levied a penalty of ₹1.91 crore on Axis Bank for violations that included contraventions of the <keyword id="19976511" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="banking-regulation-act" source="keywords">Banking Regulation Act</keyword> and non-compliance with specific RBI directions related to interest rates on deposits, Know Your Customer (KYC) norms, and collateral-free loans for agriculture. Meanwhile, HDFC Bank faced a ₹1 crore fine for failing to comply with directions concerning interest rates, customer service practices, and the use of recovery agents. <h2>Axis Bank: Key regulatory failures</h2>Axis Bank’s penalty stems from a supervisory evaluation conducted by the RBI based on its financial position as of March 31, 2023. Upon reviewing the bank’s activities, the RBI found several areas of non-compliance. One of the primary issues was the opening of savings deposit accounts in the names of ineligible entities, a direct violation of regulatory norms. Additionally, Axis Bank was found to have issued multiple customer identification codes to certain clients instead of assigning a Unique Customer Identification Code (UCIC), which is mandatory to avoid duplication and ensure proper monitoring of accounts. The bank also violated guidelines concerning agricultural loans. RBI regulations prohibit banks from asking for collateral for agricultural loans up to ₹1.60 lakh, but Axis Bank had obtained such collateral in certain cases. Lastly, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Axis Bank was found to be engaged in providing technology services—an activity that is not permissible for a banking company. This contravention added to the overall penalty levied by the central bank. <h2>HDFC Bank: Regulatory shortcomings</h2> In the case of HDFC Bank, the RBI’s investigation was based on its financial position as of March 31, 2022. The central bank uncovered several violations, including the offering of gifts, specifically covering the first-year premium for complimentary life insurance, which exceeded the permissible limit of ₹250. Moreover, HDFC Bank was found to have opened savings accounts in the names of ineligible entities, a violation similar to that of Axis Bank. Another significant failure was the bank’s inability to ensure that customers were not contacted by bank officials outside the permitted time frame of 7 am to 7 pm. <h2>RBI's Stance on Compliance</h2> While the RBI has been stringent in penalising both banks, it clarified that these penalties are based on lapses in regulatory compliance and are not reflective of the validity of any transactions or agreements between the banks and their customers. The central bank’s message is clear—financial institutions must adhere strictly to guidelines to maintain transparency, protect customers, and uphold the integrity of the banking system. The penalties serve as a reminder to all banks to stay vigilant and maintain high standards of compliance to avoid such financial and reputational damage in the future. Both Axis Bank and HDFC Bank have accepted the fines and are expected to take corrective actions to avoid future infractions. For customers, this action from the RBI is a reassurance that regulatory oversight remains a priority to ensure fair banking practices across the country.

RBI slaps fine of Rs 2.91 crore on Axis Bank and HDFC Bank: All details

Kolkata, Outlook for bank <keyword id="6354680" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit" source="Orion">credit</keyword> offtake remains positive in 2024 while deposit growth is expected to improve, according to the latest research report of <keyword id="19974164" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="careedge-ratings" source="keywords">CareEdge Ratings</keyword>. The report said that credit offtake continued to grow, increasing 20.3 per cent year-on-year to reach Rs 159.7 lakh crore for the fortnight ending January 12, 2024. The rise was due to the impact of the merger of <keyword id="19896378" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hdfc" source="keywords">HDFC</keyword> with <keyword id="19895995" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hdfc-bank" source="keywords">HDFC Bank</keyword> along with growth in personal loans. If the impact of the merger is excluded, credit grew at a lower rate of 16.1 per cent year-on-year for the fortnight compared to last year's growth of 16.5 per cent, the report said. Deposits also grew 13.1 per cent year-on-year the fortnight (including the merged impact). The report said that deposit growth is expected to improve in 2024. The outlook for credit offtake continues to remain positive in 2024 supported by factors like economic expansion and continued push for retail credit supported by increasing digitalisation, according to the report. Unsecured personal loans and <keyword id="19938496" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nbfc" source="keywords">NBFC</keyword> advances might witness a certain level of cooling off, the report said, adding that currently, capital levels are quite comfortable for banks and NBFCs. Higher interest rates, inflation and global uncertainties regarding geo-political issues are other key factors which could weigh on credit growth, the report said. The credit-deposit (CD) ratio has been generally hovering below 80 per cent since September 2023, the report said. The CD ratio saw an uptick of 44 basis points and stood at 79.9 per cent in the fortnight ending January 12, 2024, reaching a three-year high. Deposits have seen relatively steady performance since the COVID times, the report said. However, in recent years, credit growth has been significantly outperforming deposit growth, it said.

Outlook for bank credit offtake remains positive in 2024: CareEdge Ratings

<ul><li>Economies around the world are focusing on attaining growth and taming inflation by increasing borrowing rates. </li><li>The rising borrowing rate environment has made fixed-income products far more attractive compared with equity investments that are facing risks of high valuation and macro headwinds. </li><li>Analysts say that this is a good time to look at fixed-income products because the rate hike cycle has almost peaked. </li></ul>After a long time, fixed income products have emerged as an attractive investment opportunity, especially for retail investors. This is because economies are focusing on attaining growth and taming inflation by increasing borrowing rates. Due to high inflation, the US central bank has taken measures to stop its economic stimulus – also known as quantitative easing – that began as inflation rates shot up. The US Federal Reserve has raised interest rates by 450 basis points since March 2022. Its current benchmark interest rate is the highest since October 2007. The idea behind rising interest rates is that it will make borrowing costs higher, which can then cool off demand and slow down inflation. On the bright side, the rising borrowing rate environment has made fixed-income products far more attractive for Indian investors compared with equity investments that are facing risks of high valuation and macro headwinds. Investments into good old fixed deposits of banks have regained prominence with the rising rate cycle, as banks offer returns of about 7% on such products. Some bank with their revised <keyword id="35480" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fixed-deposit-rates" source="Orion">fixed deposit rates</keyword> as on Feb 21 <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Banks </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">FD rates for 2-3 years </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">FD rates for 3-5 years </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Axis Bank </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">HDFC Bank </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">State Bank of India </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">6.5% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Punjab National Bank </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">6.50% </td></tr></tbody></table> Source: Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, SBI, PNB websites Other fixed income instruments like non-convertible debentures (NCDs) are also offering higher yields to investors. For instance, redeemable NCDs issued by Avanse Financial Services recently offer a yield of 9.25% with a minimum ticket size of ₹1 lakh for a tenor of 36 months. Equities turn volatile A rise in the US interest rates does not bode well for the Indian equity markets, as it can lead to foreign investors pulling their money out from emerging markets like India to deploy it back in the safe and secure markets of the US or other more lucrative markets. As a result, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have been selling consistently in India since December and moving their <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/foreign-investors-continue-to-pull-out-of-indian-stocks-sell-equities-worth-3431-crore-in-feb-so-far/articleshow/97698730.cms">investments from Indian markets to cheaper markets </a>like China, Hong Kong and South Korea, where valuations are attractive. In January, FIIs sold Indian equities worth ₹41,464 crore and in February, so far, they have sold ₹1,567 crore equities. Also, retail participation in equities dropped to a 34-month low in January due to a sharp fall in equities and a revival of fixed income in the <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/retail-play-in-equity-continues-to-fall-hits-34-month-low/articleshow/98075535.cms">wake of rising interest rates</a>. “Equity and debt are two different asset classes. Nevertheless, asset allocation is very crucial for consistent long-term wealth creation. Having said that, looking at the current global and macroeconomic variables, fresh allocation to fixed-income products might be a wiser investment decision,” said Marzban Irani, chief investment officer – fixed income at LIC Mutual Fund. Irani says that this is a good time to look at fixed-income products because the rate hike cycle has almost peaked. Fixed-income products may remain attractive at least till 2024 Moreover, fixed-income products may continue to be attractive for investors till the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) does not cut interest rates. Since May 2022, India’s central bank has raised the repo rate – a key interest rate – by 250 basis points to 6.5%. “We do not expect any rate cuts this year in India and assign a low probability of rate cuts abroad also. In our view, the central banks may not be in a hurry to cut rates unless economic growth takes a severe downturn,” said Puneet Pal, head-fixed income at PGIM India Mutual Fund. Inflation print for January 2023 sprung a surprise with the consumer price index (CPI) rising to 6.52% while economists expected it to be between 6% to 6.2%. Economists expect inflation to cool down to 5% by April this year, comfortably below the upper tolerance limit of 6% set by the RBI. With inflation expected to cool down, analysts expect RBI to start cutting interest rates from next year. “The current yields present a good opportunity to invest in fixed income across the curve from a medium-term perspective as we expect RBI to start cutting rates from 2024 onwards. With inflation expected to soften towards 5% over the course of the next two quarters, the real yields will continue to be positive across the curve. Thus, we believe that it’s a good time to start constructing a fixed-income investment portfolio,” added Pal. For investors looking at a short-term investment horizon, Irani recommends funds in money market and liquid fund categories; and for those looking to invest beyond 3 years, he recommends medium-to-long-duration funds, banking &amp; PSU debt funds and gilt funds. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/paytm-zomato-policybazaar-nykaa-companies-attain-spotlight-again-after-q3-performance/articleshow/98003305.cms">New age technology companies back in the spotlight after Q3 performance</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/fiis-pump-in-6000-crore-in-5-sessions-as-emerging-markets-turn-attractive-again/articleshow/98017229.cms">FIIs pump in ₹6,000 crore in 5 sessions as emerging markets turn attractive again</a>

Fixed-income products attractive again as markets take a breather

<ul><li>Typically, a non-convertible debenture carries a fixed interest rate that has an inverse relationship to how credit worthy the borrower is. </li><li>NCDs are more liquid than corporate FD as they are traded in the secondary market on stock exchanges. </li><li>Each <keyword id="131571" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ncd" source="Orion">NCD</keyword> undergoes assessment by multiple <keyword id="147335" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-rating-agencies" source="Orion">credit rating agencies</keyword>, portraying the issuer's capacity to honour payment commitments. </li></ul>A non-convertible debenture, (NCD), is a type of debt instrument that lacks the option for buyers to convert it into shares or equities until its maturity. When investing in an NCD, buyers have the choice to purchase or sell the instrument and receive interest payments determined by the issuer's fixed interest rate. “But they are more liquid than corporate FD as NCDs are traded in the secondary market on stock exchanges,” says Abhishek Kumar, founder and chief<a href="https://business.outlookindia.com/invest/investment"> </a>investment advisor at SahajMoney, a financial planning firm. Interest rate: Typically, a non-convertible debenture carries a fixed interest rate that has an inverse relationship to how credit worthy the borrower is. An NCD from a highly rated issuer tends to offer a lower interest rate. Credit rating: Each NCD undergoes assessment by multiple credit rating agencies, portraying the issuer's capacity to honour payment commitments. Strong financials and a healthy cash flow of the issuing company result in higher ratings for the issued NCD. Should you invest? One should be very clear about the quality of the NCD, what is the cash flow of the company and what is the risk one is going to take. One should consider the credit rating of these NCDs before investing. However, that may not be foolproof. Do not invest in NCDs just for higher <keyword id="6374680" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="returns" source="Orion">returns</keyword> Investing in NCDs may not be a good idea, even if you are going with a AAA rating, say experts. Certain NCDs have left a bad taste in the mouth off late. One example is that of the default of the Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd (DHFL) NCD which was AAA rated but was offering a higher interest rate than some AAA rated NCDs. Same was the case with Infrastructure Leasing &amp; Financial Services Limited (IL&amp;FS), whose NCS was also AAA rated. “Even HDFC has a AAA rating , why should someone have to pay you more than the other? So, there is a perceived risk in the NCD which is offering higher returns” says Srinivasan, director and founder, Shree Sidvin Investment Advisors. Numerous NCDs are now being offered at attractive yields as a result of the increase in <keyword id="6371181" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rates" source="Orion">interest rates</keyword>. “However, one should be well informed about the company in which they want to invest, and they shouldn't base their investment decision solely on the basis of the high yields,” says Raghvendra Nath, MD, Ladderup Wealth Management. So higher interest rates of 9% or so should not be a reason to invest in NCDs. “We do tell our clients that for a difference of 2-3% in interest rate you should not take a principal risk,” says Srinivasan. Thus, when investing in NCDs, it pays to be careful.

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