All things banking, corporate & startups at @CNBCTV18Live. SRCC, University of Delhi & @ACJIndia Alum #40Under40 English-news journalists in India

Bangalore/Mumbai
Joined October 2011
FM @nsitharaman blames easy exits, and excess liquidity for #equity market's underperformance. She said India wouldn’t be “hurt” from any spillover if AI bubble burst, as it had not received “AI kind of investments coming into different jurisdictions.” cnbc.com/2026/10/18/india-ai…
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CLSA on PNB O-P, TP Rs 140 2QFY27 PAT beat estimate by 20%. This was driven by a beat on NII and one-off recoveries, partly offset by lower other income. Loan growth accelerated to 16% YoY from low-double digits a few quarters back. Deposit growth remains stable at 10%% YoY. Reported NIM improved 8bp sequentially driven by loan yields and deposit cost. Management guided that NIM could further improve. Asset quality was stable, with a gross slippage ratio of 0.8% CITI On PNB BK Sell, TP raised to Rs 110 PNB's NIM rose 8bps QoQ to 2.58% (domestic NIM at 2.74%), propelling NII growth of 10.8% YoY/7.4% QoQ — surpassing CitiE. Runoff of wholesale deposits via FCNR inflows trimmed CoD by 5bps, while continued paring of retail IBPC and low-yielding corporate exposure lifted yields by 8bps. Release in standard asset provisioning offset NPA and floating-provision buffers, pushing credit cost to near zero. RoA held firm above 1%. Global advances climbed 14.7% YoY/5.3% QoQ — outpacing FY27 guided 12–13% band — aided by FCNR-funded overseas exposure (1.5% of the book). Management reaffirmed guidance of 12–13% loan growth, NIMs of 2.6–2.7%, sub-40bps credit costs, RoA above 1% @CNBCTV18Live @_RituSingh
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HSBC on Ujjivan Small Fin Buy, TP Rs 90 UJJIVANS beat PAT estimate by 14% in 2QFY27; it further indicated that it expects to surpass its FY27 ROA guidance Increase FY27-29e PAT estimates 9-17% to reflect higher AUM growth, efficiency gains, and preferential issue Offers strong re-rating potential Appointment of new CEO is expected to take 3-4 months to complete, starting from 1 Sept 2026 HSBC on L&T Fin Buy, TP cut to Rs 310 Sound 2QFY27 results with most metrics broadly in line with estimates; softer disbursements, asset quality were concerns However, management commentary on both was reassuring; upgrade EPS by 0.8-4.6% for FY27-29e on better NIM outlook TP cut to reflect macro-economic concerns in valuation multiples HSBC on Bajaj Hsg Reduce, TP Rs 78 In 2QFY27, 3% beat in profit was driven primarily by better-than-estimated NIM Upgrade FY27-29e EPS estimates by 0.6-4.7% to reflect strong AUM growth and better-than-estimated NIM Valuing at 2.2x FY28e BVPS; retain Reduce rating given expensive valuations, sustained pressures @CNBCTV18Live @_RituSingh
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Bernstein on HDFC BK O-P, TP Rs 1150 Weak earnings growth trend for HDFC Bank continued in 2Q27 While balance-sheet growth remained healthy & asset quality stayed resilient, weaker treasury income, & margin pressure weighed on profitability. As a result, RoA moderated marginally to 1.8% despite continued opex discipline. JPM on HDFC BK OW, TP Rs 970 Delivered a steady 2Q27 with NII at Rs 346.2bn (+10% y/y) and PAT at Rs 195.1bn (+5% y/y) coming broadly in line vs JPMe. Reported NIMs declined by 10bps q/q to 330bps and trailed JPMe on FCNR impact. HDFCB underscored a positive NIM outlook (neutral to positive going forward) driven by positive impact of a 25bps repo rate hike (70% book is floating with a significant portion linked to repo), along with mix shift towards higher yielding retail and MSME, partly offset by full impact of FCNR (B) in 3Q . A decline in average LCR to 113% (vs 115% in 1Q, 110-120% target range) does reduce balance-sheet flexibility. Asset quality remains healthy GS on HDFC BK Buy, TP Rs 861 2QFY27 core PPOP growth improve to 13% YoY from 8% in 1Q and was 2% above GSe, aided by continued cost optimization. Core revenue growth picked up to 10% YoY vs. 7% YoY last quarter. Loan growth trends were positive, and bank saw improved traction in business banking, unsecured loans, and autos for instance. NIMs, however, declined by 8bps QoQ, a larger-than-expected contraction vs GSe. Nomura on HDFC BK Buy, TP Rs 940 Largely in-line 2QFY27, with core PPOP of INR287bn (+12% y-y / +3% q-q). NII growth of 3% q-q lagged peers (Axis/ICICI at 5%/6%), reflecting lower FCNR(B) mobilization as a share of deposits (3.3% vs 7%/8% for Axis/ICICI). Loan and deposit growth were healthy at 16% y-y / 5% q-q and 19% y-y / 5% q-q, respectively, though FCNR(B) inflows contributed ~3pp of q-q deposit growth. However, LCR moderated to 113% (-2pp q-q) vs largely stable levels of 124%/119% at ICICI/Axis, leaving the bank close to the lower end of its 110-120% operating band. This could constrain incremental loan growth, making deposit momentum the key swing factor. Kotak Inst Eqt on HDFC BK Buy, TP Rs 1050 Reported 5% yoy earnings growth in 2QFY27, broadly in line with operating profit growth. While NII growth continued to improve, NIM contracted by 10 bps qoq, primarily due to the impact of FCNR deposit mobilization. As bank navigates a series of leadership transitions, it enters a new phase in its evolution. A supportive operating environment and attractive valuations reinforce our constructive view, although execution remains the key monitorable. @CNBCTV18Live @_RituSingh
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Kotak Inst Eqt on Axis BK Buy, TP Rs 1600 Delivered a strong 2QFY27, reporting 40% yoy earnings growth, while operating profit increased 6% yoy. Loan growth remained robust at 23% yoy, although NIM contracted by 10 bps qoq due to the impact of recent FCNR deposit mobilization. Slippages continue to trend lower, leading to lower credit costs. While operating environment remains supportive of earnings growth, valuation upside is likely to be constrained as stock now trades close to HDFC Bank’s valuation multiple. GS on Axis BK Buy, TP Rs 1600 QFY27 earnings were largely in-line with expectations Thesis of cyclical inflection in core PPoP growth remains on track This is being led by improving visibility on NIMs, with retail disbursements remaining strong, the CASA growth run-rate has picked up and the rate cycle is turning Expect loan growth will remain strong, although moderating from current elevated levels Key challenge is around fee income, where growth remains muted, but we expect continued cost optimization to partly offset that. Asset quality trends remain strong, and risk is low amid muted trailing growth in unsecured loans. We expect core PPoP growth to inflect from 10% YoY in 2QFY27 to ~15% YoY in H2-FY27 and 20% CAGR during F27-F29E. Bernstein on Axis BK O-P, TP Rs 1600 Delivered a mixed 2Q27 performance, with lower credit costs driving earnings growth despite weaker core trends Loan growth remained robust and corporate-led, although strong borrowings growth pushed LDR sharply higher to 95% Stable margins (excluding FCNR impact), a marginal decline in NOI (-1% YoY, -3% QoQ) and a sharp increase in opex weighed on PPoP growth, even as a 52% YoY (-24% QoQ) decline in credit costs supported healthy EPS growth (+37% YoY, -2% QoQ) JPM on Axis BK OW, TP Rs 1620 Reported a better-than-expected 2Q with NII rising by 11.8% y/y to Rs 153.7bn (+3% vs JPMe), PAT rising by 38% y/y to Rs 70bn (+3% vs JPMe). While PPOP at Rs 110.8bn came 5% below JPMe on a miss in non-interest income, which declined by 1% y/y to Rs 65.3bn (-11% vs JPMe) & was more than offset by lower than expected credit costs, which declined by 20bps q/q to 51bps (vs JPMe at 80bps) partly helped by a Rs 9.71bn of recovery from written-off assets. AQ trends were healthy Valuations are attractive, as it trades at FY28E P/BV of 1.4x which is at a 31% discount vs ICICI Bank & FY28E PER of 9.6x, underpinning positive view. CITI on Axis BK Buy, TP Rs 1620 Headline headwinds—elevated opex (+11% QoQ; 2.18% opex-to-assets) from one-off Labour Code provisioning and FCNR charges, alongside muted mid-single-digit fee growth—masked robust core operational resilience. While headline NIM contracted 10bps QoQ to 3.36% due to optical FCNR(B) distortions, core margins held firm at 3.47%, further supported by structural tailwinds including a 60% repo-linked book, bulk deposit roll-offs, and liquidity redeployment. Momentum sustained with loan growth at 19% YoY / 5% QoQ (ex-FCNR), led by Corporate/SME alongside improving Retail disbursements. Slippages eased to 1.5% (vs. 1.8% QoQ); credit costs moderated sharply to 50bps (vs. 70bps QoQ) Upgrade loan growth trajectories to 21%/19%/18% for FY27E/28E/29E and modestly trim FY27E credit costs. UBS on Axis BK Buy, TP Rs 1670 ICICI reported an all-round beat on reported numbers supported by stronger loan & deposit growth. PAT of Rs148bn was up 20% YoY and was ahead of estimates. Loan growth of 12.3% QoQ/30.0% YoY (7.3% QoQ/24.1% YoY ex-FCNR-linked overseas loans) was also well ahead of expectations and peers, though material acceleration was seen in corporate loans other than continued strength in business banking. NII/Core PPOP increased 17.7%/21.8% YoY, while fee income grew a healthy 20.1% YoY NIM declined by 10bps QoQ adjusted for 8bps of tailwind from income tax refund last quarter. Management expects margins to bottom out in 3Q before recovering in 4Q @CNBCTV18Live @_RituSingh
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Bernstein on ICICI BK O-P, TP Rs 1800 ICICI Bank delivered another standout quarter, reinforcing its position as fastest-growing large private bank. Loan and deposit growth accelerated sharply, with loan growth driven by broad-based strength across corporate, business banking and retail segments While NIM moderated during quarter, margin compression was broadly in line with peers (ex-one offs) & strong balance-sheet growth continued to support healthy NII growth Combined with robust fee income momentum and improving asset-quality trends, this enabled bank to sustain best-in-class operating and earnings growth JPM on ICICI BK OW, TP Rs 1800 Delivered a broad-based beat in 2Q with NII at Rs 253.4bn (+18% y/y), coming 2% higher vs JPMe, PPOP at Rs 205.8bn (+19% y/y), coming 7% higher vs JPMe, and PAT at Rs 148.4bn (+20% y/y), coming 11% higher vs JPMe. Core NII (ex-interest on IT refund) rose by 6% q/q and 18% y/y supported by industry-leading loan growth of 12.3% q/q (+30% y/y, +2.3% vs JPMe). Reported core NIM (ex-interest on IT refund) declined by 4bps q/q, driven nainly by impact of FCNR (B). While full impact of FCNR (B) will flow through in 3Q & likely to weigh on NIMs, see tailwinds for NIM expansion in 4Q and FY28 with 57% of loan book linked to repo - now incorporate 50bps of hikes in forecasts including one in Dec’26. Nomura on ICICI BK Buy, TP raised to Rs 1740 Delivered strong 2QFY27, led by an NII beat and robust balance sheet growth Raise FY27F/28F EPS by 3%/7% NII adjusted for one-offs grew 6% q-q / 18% y-y, 2% above estimate, on loan/deposit growth of 30%/27% y-y. Core PPOP was in line at INR208bn (+22% y-y / +3% q-q), as lower dividend income following a change in a subsidiary's dividend policy, an accounting effect rather than an operating one, offset the NII beat Bank mobilized INR1.6tn of FCNR(B) deposits (8% of total deposits), 50% of which were funded by its own loans against these deposits; management expects to deploy this liquidity over next two quarters GS on ICICI BK Buy, TP Rs 2025 2QFY27 ahead of our expectations across the board, with loan growth of 24% YoY (2% above GSe), core revenue growth of 18% YoY (2% above), NIM 5bp above GSe, core PPOP 5% above, and lower provisions. NIM delivery was particularly notable, declining just 10bp QoQ despite one of the strongest FCNR(B) deposit accretions in the system (8% of deposits). Importantly, bank preserved liquidity at the bottom of interest-rate cycle, with LDR at 85%, providing meaningful headroom for medium-term earnings growth as liquidity is deployed. UBS on ICICI BK Buy, TP Rs 1800 Reported an all-round beat on reported numbers supported by stronger loan & deposit growth. PAT of Rs148bn was up 20% YoY and was ahead of estimates. Loan growth of 12.3% QoQ/30.0% YoY (7.3% QoQ/24.1% YoY ex-FCNR-linked overseas loans) was also well ahead of expectations and peers, though material acceleration was seen in corporate loans other than continued strength in business banking. NII/Core PPOP increased 17.7%/21.8% YoY, while fee income grew a healthy 20.1% YoY NIM declined by 10bps QoQ adjusted for 8bps of tailwind from income tax refund last quarter. Management expects margins to bottom out in 3Q before recovering in 4Q Kotak Inst Eqt on ICICI BK Buy, TP Rs 1800 Delivered another strong quarter, reporting 20% yoy earnings growth led by a similar increase in operating profit Bank reported industry-leading loan growth of ~30% yoy. While NIM declined 20 bps qoq to 4.2%), due to impact of FCNR deposits, bank continued to generate healthy CASA growth and low credit costs (0.2%) thanks to lower slippages (1.2%), resulting in a solid RoE print of 17% Bank continues to assert its leadership over peers by a comfortable margin, with no evidence that competitors are closing gap yet. @CNBCTV18Live @_RituSingh
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CNBC-TV18 Newsbreak Confirmed | Yes Bank said its Q2FY27 profit of ₹1,080 cr would have turned into a ₹5,217 cr loss if the impact of the SC's AT-1 bond ruling had been recognised. #YesBank #AT1Bonds @_RituSingh cnbctv18.com/market/earnings…
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Here’s what the incoming and outgoing @HDFC_Bank CEOs told me about the Q2 earnings and key priorities ahead 👇🏽
#2QWithCNBCTV18 | HDFC Bank Delivers In-Line Q2FY27 Results; Margins Contract Sashidhar Jagdishan, MD & CEO, HDFC Bank To @CNBCTV18News -Margins impacted in the quarter, but as we move on, with the upward rate trajectory there should be a change Anup Bagchi, CEO-Designate, HDFC Bank -In the near-term, I am going to engage with regulators and stakeholders @_ritusingh #HDFCBank #Q2Results #Q2FY27 #BankingStocks #NIM #AssetQuality #CNBCTV18Market
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#2QWithCNBCTV18 | @ICICIBank ED Sandeep Batra explains why the margins dipped 18 bps in Q2, where future loan growth will come from and where the bad loan addition came from in the quarter in this conversation with me. Watch 👇
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#2QWithCNBCTV18 | ICICI Bank ED Sandeep Batra explains why the margins dipped 18 bps in Q2, where future loan growth will come from and where the bad loan addition came from in the quarter. Watch 👇 xitter.cf/CNBCTV18News/status/21…
#2QWithCNBCTV18 | ICICI Bank Beats Estimates; Net Profit Rises 20% YoY Sandeep Batra, Executive Director, ICICI Bank To @CNBCTV18News -FCNR(B) has provided significant opportunities to engage with foreign customers -Excluding the impact of FCNR(B), the total loan portfolio grew 24% YoY and 7.3% sequentially @_ritusingh #ICICIBank #Q2Results #Q2FY27 #BankingStocks #LoanGrowth #FCNRB #CNBCTV18Market
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Kaizad Bharucha has requested cessation from the service of @HDFC_Bank with effect from the close of business hours on December 31, 2026. Bharucha was considered for the top job at HDFC Bank twice-but missed out both times, and is now seeking an early exit.
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.@AxisBank names Rahul Shukla as their Group Head, Commercial and Bharat Banking. Rahul Shukla is former @HDFC_Bank Commercial & Rural Banking head.
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#2QWithCNBCTV18 | #IDBIBank reports its Q2 results; ⏩Operating Profit Up 33.4% At ₹2,893 Cr Vs ₹2,168 Cr (QoQ) ⏩NIM At 4.11% Vs 3.71% (YoY)
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#2QWithCNBCTV18 | #IDBIBank reports its Q2 results; ⏩Net Profit Down 39.2% At ₹2,206 Cr Vs ₹3,627 Cr (YoY) ⏩Net Interest Income Up 28.7% At ₹4,227 Cr Vs ₹3,285 Cr (YoY) ⏩Gross NPA At 2.12% Vs 2.3% (QoQ) ⏩Net NPA At 0.17% Vs 0.16% (QoQ)
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#2QWithCNBCTV18 | #HDFCBank reports its Q2 results; ⏩NIM At 3.16% Vs 3.26% QoQ ⏩Treasury Trading Income Down 67.4% YoY At ₹780 Cr Vs ₹2,390 Cr ⏩GNPA Excluding Agriculture At 0.87% Vs 0.91% QoQ And 0.99% YoY ⏩Total Credit Cost Ratio At 0.44% ⏩Capital Adequacy Ratio At 18.9% Vs 20.0% YoY
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#2QWithCNBCTV18 | #AxisBank reports its Q2 results; ⏩NIM At 3.36% Vs 3.73% YoY ⏩Gross Slippages At ₹4,762 Cr Vs ₹5,566 Cr QoQ & Vs ₹5,696 Cr YoY ⏩Operating Profit At ₹11,083 Cr Vs CNBC-TV18 Poll Of ₹11,761 Cr ⏩Operating Profit (GU) 6.4% At ₹11,083 Cr Vs ₹10,412 Cr (YoY)
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#2QWithCNBCTV18 | #CentralBank Of India reports its Q2 results; ⏩Net Profit Up 21% At ₹1,469 Cr Vs ₹1,213 Cr (YoY) ⏩NII Up 26.3% At ₹4,145 Cr Vs ₹3,283 Cr (YoY) ⏩Gross NPA At 2.39% Vs 2.60% (QoQ) ⏩Net NPA At 0.31% Vs 0.49% (QoQ) ⏩Provisions At ₹562.7 Cr Vs ₹401.6 Cr QoQ & Vs ₹314.1Cr YoY ⏩NIM At 3.01% Vs 2.89% (YoY) ⏩FY27 NIM Expected To Be Above 3%
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COMING UP | AT 6:30 PM ON STARTUP STREET🚀 As #AI makes building software faster & coding accessible, could design become the ultimate competitive advantage? Figma Co-Founder & CEO Dylan Field @zoink catches up in conversation with @_RituSingh to discuss why the future of tech will be shaped not just by what cos build, but by how they design.
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