Money Market

The Fundamentals of Money Market in India Ranjan Varma http://www.ranjanblog.com http://personalfinance201.com India’s first online weekly on personal fin

Overview of Financial Markets

The Six Horses: Why, What, Who, Which, How and Where ?

Why: The Need.

What: The Definition.

Who: The Players.

Which & How: The Products & Process.

Where: The Resources

The Need

Need for short term funds by Banks.

Outlet for deploying funds on short term basis

Need to keep the SLR as prescribed

Need to keep the CRR as prescribed

Optimize the yield on temporary surplus funds

Regulate the liquidity and interest rates in the conduct of monetary policy to achieve the broad objective of price stability, efficient allocation of credit and a stable foreign exchange market

The Definition

Money Market is "the centre for dealings, mainly short-term character, in money assets.

It meets the short-term requirements of borrower and provides liquidity or cash to the lenders.

It is the place where short-term surplus investible funds at the disposal of financial and other institutions and individuals are bid by borrowers, again comprising Institutions, individuals and also the Government itself"

The Definition (Cont’d)

Money market refers to the market for short term assets that are close substitutes of money, usually with maturities of less than a year.

A well functioning money market provides a relatively safe and steady income-yielding avenue.

Allows the investor institutions to optimize the yield on temporary surplus funds.

Instrument of Liquidity adjustment by Central Bank.

The Players

Reserve Bank of India

SBI DFHI Ltd (Amalgamation of Discount & Finance House in India and SBI Gilts in 2004)

Commercial Banks, Co-operative Banks and Primary Dealers are allowed to borrow and lend.

Specified All-India Financial Institutions, Mutual Funds, and certain specified entities are allowed to access to Call/Notice money market only as lenders

Individuals, firms, companies, corporate bodies, trusts and institutions can purchase the treasury bills, CPs and CDs.

The Products & Process

Certificate of Deposit (CD)

Commercial Paper (CP)

Inter Bank Participation Certificates

Inter Bank term Money (Repo rates)

Treasury Bills

Call Money

Certificate of Deposit

CDs are short-term borrowings in the form of Usance Promissory Notes having a maturity of not less than 15 days up to a maximum of one year.

CD is subject to payment of Stamp Duty under Indian Stamp Act, 1899 (Central Act)

They are like bank term deposits accounts. Unlike traditional time deposits these are freely negotiable instruments and are often referred to as Negotiable Certificate of Deposits

Features of CD

CDs can be issued by all scheduled commercial banks except RRBs

Minimum period 15 days

Maximum period 1 year

Minimum Amount Rs 1 lac and in multiples of Rs. 1 lac

CDs are transferable by endorsement

CRR & SLR are to be maintained

CDs are to be stamped

Commercial Paper

Commercial Paper (CP) is an unsecured money market instrument issued in the form of a promissory note.

Who can issue Commercial Paper (CP) Highly rated corporate borrowers, primary dealers (PDs) and satellite dealers (SDs) and all-India financial institutions (FIs)

Eligibility for issue of CP

the tangible net worth of the company, as per the latest audited balance sheet, is not less than Rs. 4 crore;

(b) the working capital (fund-based) limit of the company from the banking system is not less than Rs.4 crore

and the borrowal account of the company is classified as a Standard Asset by the financing bank/s.

Rating Requirement

All eligible participants should obtain the credit rating for issuance of Commercial Paper

Credit Rating Information Services of India Ltd. (CRISIL)

Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Ltd. (ICRA)

Credit Analysis and Research Ltd. (CARE)

Duff & Phelps Credit Rating India Pvt. Ltd. (DCR India)

The minimum credit rating shall be P-2 of CRISIL or such equivalent rating by other agencies

Maturity

CP can be issued for maturities between a minimum of 15 days and a maximum upto one year from the date of issue.

If the maturity date is a holiday, the company would be liable to make payment on the immediate preceding working day.

To whom issued

CP is issued to and held by individuals, banking companies, other corporate bodies registered or incorporated in India and unincorporated bodies, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs).

Repo Rates and Reverse Repo Rates

RBI uses Repo and Reverse repo as instruments for liquidity adjustment in the system

It helps banks to invest surplus cash

It helps investor achieve money market returns with sovereign risk.

It helps borrower to raise funds at better rates

An SLR surplus and CRR deficit bank can use the Repo deals as a convenient way of adjusting SLR/CRR positions simultaneously.

Meaning of Repo

It is a transaction in which two parties agree to sell and repurchase the same security. Under such an agreement the seller sells specified securities with an agreement to repurchase the same at a mutually decided future date and a price

The Repo/Reverse Repo transaction can only be done at Mumbai between parties approved by RBI and in securities as approved by RBI (Treasury Bills, Central/State Govt securities).

Call Money Market

The call money market is an integral part of the Indian Money Market, where the day-to-day surplus funds (mostly of banks) are traded. The loans are of short-term duration varying from 1 to 14 days.

The money that is lent for one day in this market is known as " Call Money ", and if it exceeds one day (but less than 15 days) it is referred to as " Notice Money ".

Call Money Market

Banks borrow in this market for the following purpose

To fill the gaps or temporary mismatches in funds

To meet the CRR & SLR mandatory requirements as stipulated by the Central bank

To meet sudden demand for funds arising out of large outflows.

Gilt edged securities

The term government securities encompass all Bonds & T-bills issued by the Central Government, and state governments. These securities are normally referred to, as "gilt-edged" as repayments of principal as well as interest are totally secured by sovereign guarantee.

Treasury Bills

Treasury bills, commonly referred to as T-Bills are issued by Government of India against their short term borrowing requirements with maturities ranging between 14 to 364 days.

All these are issued at a discount-to-face value. For example a Treasury bill of Rs. 100.00 face value issued for Rs. 91.50 gets redeemed at the end of it's tenure at Rs. 100.00.

Who can invest in T-Bill

Banks, Primary Dealers, State Governments, Provident Funds, Financial Institutions, Insurance Companies, NBFCs, FIIs (as per prescribed norms), NRIs & OCBs can invest in T-Bills.

The Resources