Moody’s maintains stable outlook on Indian banks
1 min read 01 Mar 2023, 05:25 PM ISTMoody’s said credit demand from private corporates will also stay strong as inflation increases need for working capital and as companies turn to domestic banks to meet their financing requirements at lower costs.
PremiumNew Delhi: Global credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service on Wednesday said outlook for India’s banking sector remains stable and is supported by economic growth and improved financials.
“We maintain a stable outlook for India’s (Baa3 stable) banking system. While we expect the country’s real GDP growth to moderate in the fiscal year ending March 2024 (fiscal 2024), India’s underlying growth potential is fundamentally strong, which will support banks‘ credit growth and asset quality," Moody’s said.
“Still, loans to small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) continue to pose risks to banks‘ asset quality because this segment is the most vulnerable to rises in interest rates," it added.
Saying asset quality of banks will be stable, it added that non-performing loan (NPL) ratios will decline modestly because of recoveries and write-offs of legacy problem loans.
“Banks‘ profitability will stabilise after improving in the past few years as the boost from declines in loan-loss provisions wanes. Banks’ capital, funding and liquidity will be stable and supportive of credit growth," Moody’s said.
The rating agency also said the Indian economy will continue to grow strongly, despite external challenges, while maintaining a stable outlook for India’s banking system.
Moody’s expects India’s real GDP to grow 5.5% in fiscal 2024 and 6.5% in fiscal 2025.
“Although the projected growth rates are lower than 6.8% in fiscal 2023, it is still a strong level, supported by domestic consumption, as well as government capital expenditure," it added.
Moody’s said credit demand from private corporates will also stay strong as inflation increases need for working capital and as companies turn to domestic banks to meet their financing requirements at lower costs.
“This will help sustain recovery in credit growth, which started in fiscal 2023, at around 15%," it added.
