Banker S.A. January 2014 | Page 54

BANKING NEWS INTERNATIONAL Outlook on Indian banking system Moody’s Investors Service maintained its negative outlook on India’s banking system, reflecting the negative effects of currency volatility, persistent inflation, and slowing economic growth. According to Moody’s, asset quality will continue to deteriorate, particularly for public sector banks, and profitability will likely remain weak, limiting internal capital generation. ‘The operating environment for India’s banking system continues to exert negative pressure on ratings of many public sector banks. While structural issues related to the infrastructure sector are not new, the recent downturn in economic growth has exacerbated these problems and increased their negative effects on asset quality,’ says Gene Fang, Moody’s Vice President and Senior Analyst. While asset quality for private sector banks has largely rem Z[