Foreign direct investment (FDI) is defined as “investment made to acquire lasting interest in enterprises operating outside of the economy of the investor.” The FDI relationship consists of a parent enterprise and a foreign affiliate which together form a Multinational corporation (MNC). In order to qualify as FDI the investment must afford the parent enterprise control over its foreign affiliate. The UN defines control in this case as owning 10% or more of the ordinary shares or voting power of an incorporated firm or its equivalent for an unincorporated firm; lower ownership shares are known as portfolio investment. Indian federal government has opened up the banking sector for foreign investors raising the ceiling of foreign direct investment in the Indian private sector banks to 49 percent. However, the ceiling of FDI in the country’s public sector banks remains unchanged at 20 percent. Foreign banks having branches in India are also Continue reading
Indian Economy
National Income Accounting in India
According to the First report of the National Income Committee, “National income estimate measures the volume of commodities and services turned out during a given period, counted without duplication.” This means the total volume of goods and services produced in a year in a country is valued in monetary terms to obtain the National income of the country concerned. Regarding the measurement of National income, it could be done in three different ways depending upon the interpretation of concept of national income. If National income is considered as a flow of goods and services, then the method used is called Product method. If National income is treated as a flow of income then the relevant method of measuring it is called Income method. Alternatively, if National income is treated as a flow of expenditure, the method used is called the Expenditure method. Apart from these traditional methods of measuring National Continue reading
Factors Influencing Foreign Exchange Rates
Foreign exchange rates are extremely volatile and it is incumbent on those involved with foreign exchange – either as a purchaser, seller, speculator or institution – to know what causes rates to move. Actually, there are a variety of factors – market sentiment, the state of the economy, government policy, demand and supply and a host of others. The more important factors that influence foreign exchange rates are discussed below: Strength of the Economy :The strength of the economy affects the demand and supply of foreign currency. If an economy is growing fast and is strong it will attract foreign currency thereby strengthening its own. On the other hand, weaknesses result in an outflow of foreign exchange. If a country is a net exporter (as were Japan and Germany), the inflow of foreign currency far outstrips the outflow of their own currency. The result is usually a strengthening in its value. Continue reading
Money Market in India – Development, Features and Instruments
Money market is an important segment of the financial market (system) as it provides avenue for equilibrating the short term (ranging from overnight up to an year) demand for and supply of funds. It also plays an important role in the transmission mechanism of monetary policy, as it acts as a medium through which the central bank can influence the short term liquidity and interest rates in the financial system. As per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) definition, a Money market is “a market for short terms financial assets that are close substitute for money, facilitates the exchange of money in primary and secondary market”. Indian money market was highly regulated and was characterized by limited number of participants. The limited variety and instruments were available. Interest rate on the instruments was under the regulation of Reserve Bank of India. The sincere efforts for developing the money market were made when the Continue reading
Composition and Importance of Money Market
Composition of Money Market The money market is not a single homogeneous market. It consists of a number of sub-markets which collectively constitute the money market. There should be competition within each sub-market as well as between different sub-markets. The following are the main sub-markets of a money market: Call Money Market. Commercial Bills Market or Discount Market. Acceptance Market. Treasury bill Market. Indian money market was highly regulated and was characterized by limited number of participants. The limited variety and instruments were available. Interest rate on the instruments was under the regulation of Reserve Bank of India. The sincere efforts for developing the money market were made when the financial sector reforms were started by the government. Money markets are the markets for short-term, highly liquid debt securities. Examples of these include bankers’ acceptances, repos, negotiable certificates of deposit, and Treasury Bills with maturity of one year or less Continue reading
Exchange Rate Adjustment as an Economic Stabilization Measure in 1991
The Indian rupee is linked to a basket of important currencies of the country’s major trading partners. The major objective of exchange rate policy is to adjust exchange rates in such way as to promote the competitiveness of Indian exports in the world market. Adjustments in the external value of the rupee are therefore made from time to time. The Reserve Bank of India effected an exchange rate adjustment on 1 July, 1991 in which the value of the rupee declined by about 7 to 9 per cent against the major currencies (the Pound Sterling, the US Dollar, the Deutschmark, the French Franc and the Yen). There was another exchange rate adjustment on 3 July, 1991 in which the value of the rupee declined by about 10 to 11 per cent against the major currencies. Between 28 June and 3 July, 1991, the rupee depreciated by about 18 per cent Continue reading