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CHAPTER 1
Government Securities
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
The marketable debt issued by the Government and SemiGovernment bodies which represents a claim on the Government is called Government Securities. It is also called as gilt-edged security. Government Securities are issued for the purpose of refunding the maturing securities for advance refunding of securities which have not yet matured, and raising fresh cash resources. Treasury Bills and Bonds are the examples of Government Securities. One of the important features of the Government Securities is that they are considered to be totally secured financial instruments. They ensure safety of both capital and income. Central Government Securities are the safest amongst all securities. Thus Government Securities are unique and important financial instruments in the financial market of any country. These securities are normally issued in the denomination of Rs.100 or Rs.1000. the face value, which was Rs.100 till the middle of 1980, was raised to Rs.1000 in the recent years. These instruments are liquid and safe and hence the rate of interest on these instruments is relatively lower. There are three forms of Central and State Government Securities. Stock certificate, Promissory note and bearer bond. Bearer bonds and stock certificates are not very popular in India Government Securities currently are in the form of Promissory notes.
Government securities are issued by Central Government, State Government, Semi-Government authorities like Municipal corporations, Port Trusts, State Electricity Boards, Public Sector Enterprises and other Government agencies like IFCI, ICICI, IDBI, NABARD,SIDCS and Housing Boards. These agencies supply government securities and the demand essentially comes from banks, financial institutions and other investors. RBI plays an active role in the purchase and sale of these securities as a part of its monetary management exercise. There is no underwriting or guaranteeing required in the sale of Government Securities, as Reserve Bank of India is Policy-bound to buy a substantial portion of the loan unsubscribe by the public. Dealings in Government Securities are made through the mechanism provided by the Reserve Bank of India. The Brokers and Dealers are approved by the RBI who is eligible to deal in these securities. One of the important features of the Government Securities is that they offer wide ranging tax incentives to the investors. Therefore, these securities are popular in the market. Investors in these securities get tax rebate under the Income Tax Act. The Central Government securities have high profile of liquidity. However, state government and local government securities have limited liquidity. The government securities market in India has two segments, namely, primary market and secondary market. The issue of securities by Central and State Government constitute the primary market. The secondary market comprises the exchange of these securities by the
Government Securities Market in India banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, provident funds trusts, primary dealers, individuals and Reserve Bank of India. The Public Debt Office (PDO) of the RBI undertakes to issue government securities. A notification for the issue of securities is made a few days before the public subscription is open. The opening of the subscription depends on the response of the market and varies between two to three days. The issue is made in a number of branches in order to avoid flooding of securities in the market. It facilitates smooth subscription to securities and helps to avoid sudden liquidity problems in the market. The offices of RBI and SBI receive applications for the securities. Government reserves the right to retain over-subscription up to a pre-specified percentage which is normally 10 percent in excess of the notified amount of issue.
Government Securities offer a safe avenue of investment through guaranteed payment of interest and repayment of Principal by the government. They offer relatively a lower fixed rate of interest compared to interest on other securities. These Securities are issued in the denominations of Rs. 100 or Rs.1000. They have a fixed maturity period. Interest is paid half-yearly RBI Services loans as these are the liabilities of Government of India and the State Governments. These securities are safe and risk free. These securities are also eligible as SLR investments. As the date of maturity is specified in the securities they are also called as dated government securities. RBI plays a special role in the purchase and sale of these Securities as part of its monetary management exercise. There is no underwriting or guaranteeing required in Sale of Government Securities. Dealing in securities take place through the mechanism provided by the RBI. The brokers and dealers are approved by the RBI. A striking feature of these Securities is that they offer wide ranging tax incentives to the investors. Therefore, these securities are more popular. Under the Income Tax Act, rebates are allowed for the investment in these securities. Each sale and purchase has to be negotiated separately; the gild-edged market is an over-the-counter market. The Government Securities market has two segments namely Primary market and Secondary market. The issuers are Central and State Governments in the Primary market. The Secondary
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Government Securities Market in India market comprises banks, Financial Institutions, Insurance Companies, Provident funds, Trusts, Individuals, Primary dealers and the RBI.
The Securities of Central and State Government are issued in the form of Stock Certificate, Promissory notes and Bearer bonds. These Securities are mainly traded at Bombay Stock Exchange. In terms of Size, the primary market for Governments Securities is much bigger than the Industrial Securities Market. A notification for the issue of securities is made a few days before the Public subscription is open. The opening of the subscription depends on the response of the market and varies between two to three days. The issue is made in number of branches in a year. The offices of RBI and SBI receive the applications for the Securities. The Government, reserves the right to retain over subscription up to a pre-specified percentage which is generally 10 percent, of the notified amount. The mechanism of trading in Government Securities takes place through the Direct Sale, Securities General Ledger accounts and Bank Receipts method.
CHAPTER 2
Pre-reform period
Prior to liberalization of 1990s, the Government securities market was underdeveloped partly because of inefficient market practices and partly because of limited institutional infrastructure. Further, in order to keep the cost of Government borrowings low, the coupon rates offered on Government securities remained negative in real terms (i.e. after factoring in inflation) for several years till about mid-eighties. The Reserve Bank of India also had little control over some of the essential facets of debt management, like volume and maturity profile of debt and the interest rate structure. This, coupled with automatic monetization of budget deficit without any limits, prevented the development of a deep and
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Government Securities Market in India vibrant Government securities market. A retail market for Government securities simply did not exist. With a captive investor base through Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) prescription and interest below the market rate, secondary market for Government bonds remained dormant. Against the above backdrop and in the context of the overall economic reforms, development of the Government securities markets was initiated in the 1990s through carefully and cautiously sequenced measures within a clear cut agenda for primary and secondary market design.
Post-Reforms Developments
In the post reforms era, considering the significance of a vibrant Government securities market for activating internal debt management policy, a number of measures were introduced. One major step in the reforms process was the elimination of the automatic monetization of the Centrals fiscal deficit by gradually phasing out ad hoc treasury bills, in 1997. A system of Ways and Means Advances (WMA) to the Central Government, subject to mutually agreed limits at market-related rates, was put in place instead, to meet mismatches in the cash-flows. Such phasing was necessary to permit the development of the money markets and for a credible benchmark rate to emerge. The RBI reserves the right to trigger floatation of fresh Government loans as and when the actual utilization crosses 75% of the limit, WMA does not acquire the cumulative character of ad hocs. This
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Government Securities Market in India enables the RBI to accommodate the Government as its discretion and helps impose market discipline.
II.
Government Securities, thus, is a constituent of national debt along with State Government Securities, Treasury bills and Government guaranteed bonds.
III.
IV.
Coupons offered on Government Securities are either pre-determined by RBI or arrived through competitive bidding or auction process.
V.
Issues have varied from fixed semi-annual coupons and bullet redemption on maturity, to zero coupon bonds, floating rate bonds and also securities which are partly paid up at the time of the issue.
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Government Securities Market in India VI. Coupons are fixed and paid out semi-annually to the holder of the security (except zero coupons).
VII.
Nomenclature: The coupon rate and year of maturity identifies the government security. Example: 12.25% GOI 2008 indicates the following: 12.25% is the coupon rate, GOI denotes Government of India, which is the borrower, and 2008 is the year of maturity.
VIII.
Eligibility: All entities registered in India like banks, financial institutions, Primary Dealers, firms, companies, corporate bodies, partnership firms, institutions, mutual funds, Foreign Institutional Investors, State Governments, Provident Funds, trusts, research organizations, and even individuals are eligible to purchase Government Securities.
IX.
Availability: Government securities are highly liquid instruments available both in the primary and secondary market. They can be purchased from Primary Dealers.
X.
Forms of Issuance of Government Securities: Banks, Primary Dealers and Financial Institutions have been allowed to hold these securities with the Public Debt Office of Reserve Bank of India in dematerialized form in accounts known as Subsidiary General Ledger (SGL) Accounts. Entities having a Gilt Account with Banks or
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Government Securities Market in India Primary Dealers can hold these securities with them in dematerialized form.
XI.
Minimum Amount: In terms of RBI regulations, government dated securities can be purchased for a minimum amount of Rs. 10,000/only. Treasury bills can be purchased for a minimum amount of Rs 25000/- only and in multiples thereof. State Government Securities can be purchased for a minimum amount of Rs 1,000/- only.
XII.
Repayment: Government securities are repaid at par on the expiry of their tenor. The different repayment methods are as follows:
1)
would be credited to their current accounts with the Reserve Bank of India.
2)
would receive the maturity proceeds and they would pay the Gilt Account Holders.
3)
maturity proceeds would be collected by their DP's and they in turn would pay the demat Account Holders.
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Day Count: For government dated securities and state government securities the day count is taken as 360 days for a year and 30 days for every completed month. However for Treasury bills it is 365 days for a year.
EXAMPLE
A client purchases 7.40% GOI 2012 for face value of Rs. 10 lacs.@ Rs.101.80, i.e. the client pays Rs.101.80 for every unit of government security having a face value of Rs. 100/- The settlement is due on October 3, 2002. What is the amount to be paid by the client?
The security is 7.40% GOI 2012 for which the interest payment dates are 3rd May, and 3rd November every year. The last interest payment date for the current year is 3rd May 2002. The calculation would be made as follows: Face value of Rs. 10 lacs. @ Rs.101.80%. Therefore the principal amount payable is Rs.10 lacs X 101.80% =10,18,000 Last interest payment date was May 3, 2002 and settlement date is October 3, 2002. Therefore the interest has to be paid for 150 days (including 3rd May, and excluding October 3, 2002)
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Government Securities Market in India (28 days of May, including 3rd May, up to 30th May + 30 days of June, July, August and September + 2 days of October). Since the settlement is on October 3, 2002, that date is excluded. Interest payable = 10 lacs X 7.40% X 150 = Rs. 30833.33. 360 X 100 Total amount payable by client =10, 18,000+30833.33=Rs. 10, 48,833.33
CHAPTER 3
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Main Types:
1) Government of India Securities issued by Government of India.
2) State
Government
Securities
issued
by
the
state
Governments. 3) Agency Bonds issued by Government agencies or public sector undertakings wherein the principal and interest are guaranteed by the Central Government or one of the state Governments.
The key features of these securities are: a. They are issued at face value.
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Government Securities Market in India b. Coupon or interest rate is fixed at the time of issuance, and remains constant till redemption of the security. c. The tenor of the security is also fixed. d. Interest /Coupon payment is made on a half yearly basis on its face value. e. The security is redeemed at par (face value) on its maturity date.
c. The securities do not carry any coupon or interest rate. The difference between the issue price (discounted price) and face value is the return on this security. d. The security is redeemed at par (face value) on its maturity date.
3)
is made in installments over a given time frame. It meets the needs of investors with regular flow of funds and the need of Government when it does not need funds immediately. The first issue of such stock
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Government Securities Market in India of eight year maturity was made on November 15, 1994 for Rs. 2000 crore. Such stocks have been issued a few more times thereafter. The key features of these securities are:
a. They are issued at face value, but this amount is paid in installments over a specified period. b. Coupon or interest rate is fixed at the time of issuance, and remains constant till redemption of the security. c. The tenor of the security is also fixed. d. Interest /Coupon payment is made on a half yearly basis on its face value. e. The security is redeemed at par (face value) on its maturity date.
4)
with a fixed percentage over a benchmark rate. There may be a cap and a floor rate attached thereby fixing a maximum and minimum interest rate payable on it. Floating rate bonds of four year maturity were first issued on September 29, 1995, followed by another issue on December 5, 1995. Recently RBI issued a floating rate bond, the coupon of which is benchmarked against average yield on 364 Days Treasury Bills for last six months. The coupon is reset every six months.
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may vary according to the change in the benchmark rate till redemption of the security. The tenor of the security is also fixed. d. Interest /Coupon payment is made on a half yearly basis on its face value. e. The security is redeemed at par (face value) on its maturity date.
5)
Government Securities market RBI issued a bond with call and put option this year. This bond is due for redemption in 2012 and carries a coupon of 6.72%. However the bond has call and put option after five years i.e. in year 2007. In other words it means that holder of bond can sell back (put option) bond to Government in 2007 or Government can
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Government Securities Market in India buy back (call option) bond from holder in 2007. This bond has been priced in line with 5 year bonds.
wholesale price index at the time of issuance. Therefore the actual amount of interest paid varies according to the change in the Wholesale Price Index. c. The tenor of the security is fixed. d. Interest /Coupon payment is made on a half yearly basis on its face value. e. The principal redemption is linked to the Wholesale Price Index.
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CHAPTER 4
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Government Securities Market in India treasury bills are highly liquid. There is no risk of default in case of Treasury bills. These bills are readily available and have assured yield. The participants in the Treasury bill market are Reserve Bank of India, State Bank of India, Commercial Banks, State Governments and other approved bodies. Discount and Finance House of India is the market maker in the Treasury bill market. The other participants in the Treasury bill market are the Securities Trading Corporation of India, LIC, UTI, GIC, NABARD, IDBI, IFCI and ICICI. Foreign Financial Institutions, Corporate entities are also participating in the Treasury bill market.RBI and commercial banks are the most popular players in the Treasury bill market. Auctioning is a method of trading whereby merchants bid against one another and where the securities are sold to the highest bidder. This system was introduced in 1992, for the sale of dated Government Securities. A number of instruments of wide ranging period i.e. 14 day, 91day and 364day
Treasury bills and dated Securities of Government of India are sold. Bidders have to furnish written ad sealed quotations of auction such as Multiple Price Auction and Uniform Price Auction. Under the Multiple Price Auction, mechanism, every bidder gets allocation according to his bid and the issuer collects a premium from all bidders by quoting a rate lower than the cut-off yield. Under the uniform price mechanism
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Government Securities Market in India competitive bids are accepted on the basis of the minimum discounted price known as the cut-off price. The price of the bill is determined at the auction. This minimum price is independent of the bid-prices tendered below or at the cut-off price.
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CHAPTER 5
Government Securities Market in India SLR has been progressively reduced to 25% (of the net demand and time liabilities of bank), it is estimated that banks hold about 37% (of the net demand and time liabilities of banks) in the form of Government securities. Banks hold about 60% of outstanding Government Securities. Apart from banks, provident funds and insurance companies are large holders of Government bonds, buying them to comply with prudential norms governing their portfolios. These institutions hold about 20% of outstanding Government Securities. Primary Dealers hold Government securities either due to development or underwriting commitments or to enable repo transactions and market making. Other investors include mutual funds, individuals, charitable trusts etc.
Government Securities Market in India offers, including in electronic form, for purchase of Government securities.
Denomination:
For Central Government securities, the minimum denomination is Rs. 10000 and trading takes place in multiples of Rs. 5 crores. For state Government securities, it is Rs. 1000 and trading takes place in multiples of Rs. 1-5 crores. For agency bonds, it is Rs.5000 and in multiples thereof.
Mode of payment:
Payments for the securities are made by the applicants on such dates as mentioned in the specific notification, by means of cash or cheque drawn on RBI or Bankers pay order or by authority to debit their current account with RBI or by Electronic Fund Transfer in a secured environment.
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CHAPTER 6
28
Government Securities Market in India As a part of reform in the financial sector a policy decision was taken to move towards market related interest rates for Government borrowing. Accordingly, with effect from June 1992 Government of India has started borrowing by issue of debt at market related rates determined by conducting auctions. Market related rates are evolved in the auctions for sale of dated securities or treasury bills. The Government issues securities through the following modes: i. ii. iii. iv. Issue of securities through auction. Issue of securities with pre-announced coupon rates. Issue of securities through tap sale. Issue of securities through conversion.
The Securities can be issued through auction either on price basis or yield basis. The coupons on such securities are announced before the date of floation and the securities are issued at par. No aggregate amount is indicated in the notification in respect of the securities sold on tap. The holders of Treasury bills of certain specified maturities and holder of specified dated securities are provided an option to convert the respective Treasury bills or dated securities at specified prices into new securities offered for sale.
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Government Securities Market in India Securities are issued through auction either on price basis or on yield basis. Where the issue is on price basis, the coupon is predetermined and the bidders quote price per Rs. 100 face value of the security, at which they desire to purchase the security. Where the issue is on yield basis, the coupon of the security is decided in an auction and the security carries the same coupon till maturity. On the basis of the bids received, RBI determines the maximum rate of yield or the minimum offer price as the case may be at which offers for purchase of securities would be accepted at the auction. The RBI has moved from yield based auction to price based auction in 1998, though it retains the flexibility to resort to yield based auctions and notify the same in the auction notification. The auctions for issue of securities (on either yield basis or price basis) are held either on Uniform price (also known as Dutch auction) method or on Multiple price (also known as French auction) method. Where an auction is held on a Uniform price method, competitive bids offered with rates up to and including the maximum rate of yield or the prices up to and including the minimum offer price, as determined by RBI, are accepted at the maximum rate of yield or minimum offer price so determined. Bids quoted higher than the maximum rate of yield or lower than the minimum price are rejected. Where an auction is held on Multiple prices method, competitive bids offered at the maximum rate of yield or the minimum offer price, as determined by RBI, are accepted. Other bids tendered at lower than the maximum rate of yield or higher than the minimum offer price are accepted at the rate of yield or price as quoted in the respective bid. Bids
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Government Securities Market in India quoted higher than the maximum rate of yield or lower than the minimum price are rejected. Individuals and specified institutions (retail investor) can participate in the auctions on non-competitive basis. Allocation of the securities to non-competitive bidders is made at the discretion of RBI and at a price not higher than the weighted average price arrived at on the basis of the competitive bids accepted at the auction or any other price announced in the specific notification. The nominal amount of securities that would be allocated to retail investors on non-competitive basis is restricted to a maximum percentage of the aggregate nominal amount of the issue, within or outside the nominal amount. Sale of Government securities (except 91 days treasury bills) is held under Multiple Price Auctions; Uniform Price Auctions are held for sale of 91 days Treasury Bills. RBI has announced that it may conduct uniform price auctions for sale of dated securities on a selective and experimental basis. The notification for the respective auctions will specify the format to be used, viz., uniform price or multiple prices.
2) rates.
The coupon on such securities is announced before the date of flotation and the securities are issued at par. In case the total subscription exceeds the aggregate amount offered for sale, RBI may make partial allotment to all the applicants. State Governments continue to issue securities at pre-announced coupon rates and prices. However, from
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Government Securities Market in India 1998-99 onwards an option was given to the State Government to raise a small portion of their borrowing by conducting competitive auctions. Several State Governments have availed of this facility.
3)
No aggregate amount is indicated in the notification in respect of the securities sold on tap. Sale of such securities may be extended to more than one day and the sale may be closed at any time on any day.
4)
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CHAPTER 7
33
Government Securities Market in India in the form of SGL Account transfer takes place in the books of Public Debt Offices on Delivery Versus payment (DVP) basis. DVP system is introduced to reduce the counter party risk in securities transactions.
2) Secondary Market
Transactions in securities are governed by the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 as government securities are "Securities" as defined in the Act. Hence the provisions of the Act are applicable for the transactions in Government securities. Under the Act the Reserve Bank has been delegated powers by the Government of India to regulate contracts in government securities, money market securities, gold related securities and derivatives based on these securities, as also ready forward contracts in all debt instruments. Transactions on the stock exchanges will be in addition subject to the regulations prescribed by the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Reserve Bank of India has permitted Repos and Reverse Repos subject to the terms and conditions and among the participants as specified hereunder: 1) Ready forward contracts are undertaken only in Treasury Bills and transferable dated securities of all maturities issued by the Government of India and State Governments. 2) Ready forward contracts in the securities specified at (a) above may be entered into by a banking company, a cooperative bank or any person, maintaining a Subsidiary Ledger Account and a Current Account with Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai, only among themselves.
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Government Securities Market in India 3) Such ready forward contracts shall be settled through the Subsidiary General Ledger Accounts of the participants with Reserve Bank of India at Mumbai only, and 4) No sale transaction should be put through without actually holding the securities in the portfolio. While RBIs policy supports the establishment of a deep and liquid repo market, enlargement of the types of securities and eligible participants for the repo market will depend upon the establishment of the secure infrastructure for the securities market including establishment of a Securities Clearing Corporation to facilitate tri-partite repos. Short selling in securities is prohibited. Presently, Over- the -Counter outright transactions in government securities can be freely concluded providing for spot delivery (payment on the same day of the contract or next day) as per the Act. In order to develop the securities market on healthy lines and to facilitate price discovery in the market, RBI daily makes available to the market the prices in respect of secondary market transactions in government securities, which are settled through SGL Account. This has helped in the establishment of sovereign yield curve, promoted market transparency and improved price discovery for government securities in the Indian Market. Effective management of public debt by the Reserve Bank is closely linked to the development of a deep and liquid secondary market and RBI has been taking various initiatives in this direction.
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CHAPTER 8
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The main participants in the Government Securities market such as banks, Primary Dealers, Financial Institutions enter into transactions in government securities market mainly as a part of their investment and trading functions. RBI has issued detailed instructions to banks about the categorization and valuation of government securities. Further banks, which maintain "Trading Book", can do so, only subject to compliance with certain preconditions specified by the RBI from risk management angle. In order to develop the market on sound lines, RBI has initiated various reforms. Thus the prices at which different securities are
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Government Securities Market in India bought/sold are made available to the market participants on a daily basis. National Stock Exchange also publishes the security prices in respect of transactions reported to them. As mentioned earlier system of DVP has been introduced to reduce counterparty risk in security transfers. In order to protect the interest of retail holders of government securities using the system of Constituents SGL Accounts, RBI have issued guidelines regarding maintenance of such accounts. A system of retail holding through Bond Ledger Form has also been introduced in respect of certain securities. Bond Ledger Accounts can be opened with branches of specified banks and this is expected to make it convenient for retail holders, although at present only Relief Bonds can be so held. RBI extends liquidity support to Mutual Funds Dedicated to Investments in Government Securities (GILT FUNDS) to encourage such Mutual Funds, which is a convenient way of indirect investments in government securities by individuals and other market participants. Primary Dealers play an important role in the government securities market. A brief account of their role is provided in the following paragraphs:
Primary Dealers
The Guidelines for Primary Dealers (PDs) in Government Securities were announced by the Bank in March 1995. The objectives of setting up the system of Primary Dealers are:
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Government Securities Market in India i. To strengthen the infrastructure in the government securities market in order to make it vibrant, liquid and broad based. ii. To ensure development of underwriting and market making capabilities for government securities outside the RBI so that the latter will gradually shed these functions. iii. To improve secondary market trading system, which would contribute to price discovery, enhance liquidity and turnover and encourage voluntary holding of government securities amongst a wider investor base. iv. To make PDs an effective conduit for conducting open market operations.
Government Securities Market in India The relationship between the Bank and the entities in their capacity as PDs is not statutory, but contractual in nature. Primary Dealership is renewed every year on the basis of agreement to be entered into between the Bank and these entities. Legally they are non-banking financial companies and are subject to the registration requirements for NBFCs. However, if a PD does not accept public deposits it is exempt from the related regulations. On account of the special responsibilities assigned to them in the Government Securities Market, RBI has been monitoring their activities by undertaking off as well as on site surveillance through scrutiny of prescribed returns and also by on-site inspections to check compliance with the Guidelines and other terms of appointment. RBI has prescribed capital adequacy standards to be observed by Primary Dealers. The Primary Dealers' responsibilities are:
i.
A Primary Dealer will be required to commit to aggregative bid for Government of India dated securities and auction Treasury Bills on an annual basis of not less than a specified amount. The agreed minimum amount of bids would be separately indicated for dated securities and Treasury Bills.
ii.
The Primary Dealer would have to achieve a minimum success ratio of 40 per cent for both dated securities and Treasury Bills (vis--vis bidding commitment).
iii. iv. v.
To maintain risk based capital adequacy as per RBI instructions The PD has to quote two-way at least in a few securities PDs have to underwrite primary auction of government securities.
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Issues of Treasury Bills are not underwritten. Instead, PDs have to commit to submit minimum bids at each auction covering the entire issue amounts. The percentage of minimum bidding commitment so determined by the Reserve Bank will remain unchanged for the entire financial year. In determining the minimum bidding commitment, RBI will take into account the offer made by the PD, its net owned funds and its track record.
Government Securities Market in India vi. Facility of transfer of funds from one centre to another centre under RBIs Remittance Facility Scheme and also of clearing of cheques arising out of Government securities transactions, tendered at RBI counters.
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Government Securities Market in India ix. Maintenance separate accounts in respect of its own position and customer transactions. x. Responsibility to bring to RBIs attention any major complaint against him or action initiated/taken against him by authorities such as the Stock Exchanges, SEBI, CBI, Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax, etc. xi. Setting up prudential ceilings, with the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the company, on borrowings from the money market including repos, as a multiple of net owned funds, subject to the guidelines, if any, issued by the Reserve Bank in this regard.
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CHAPTER 9
46
Government Securities Market in India in these securities. Government Securities are safe and liquid. But different authorities issue the Government Securities, hence the extent to which they possess these attributes, the safety and liquidity differ from authority to authority. The marketability of Government securities is relatively restricted. There is no active market for Government Securities, particularly in semi-government securities. There are three forms of Central and State Government Securities: i.
ii.
iii.
Bearer bonds are not usually issued and Stock Certificates are not popular in India. Most of the government securities currently are in the form of Promissory notes. Promissory notes of any loan can be converted into stock Certificates of any other loan and vice versa. Government Securities are issued through the Public Debt office of the Reserve Bank of India. The issues of Government Securities are notified a few days before they become open for subscription and they are kept open for subscription for 2 to 3 days. These issues may be closed for subscription earlier if the subscriptions approximate the amount of issue. The budgeted amount of the issues in a given year is raised in a number of branches in the year. This is done for the purpose of avoiding the flooding of the market with securities at a given time. There are small member of large issues, because the issues are mostly bought by the
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Government Securities Market in India institutional investors. After the announcement of the new issue, the RBI suspends the sale of existing loans till the closure of subscription for the new issues. The Government reserves the right to retain subscriptions up to a specified percentage i.e. up to 10 percent in excess of notified amounts. Applications for loans are collected by the offices of the RBI and SBI. In case of issues of State Government Securities, oversubscription to loans of one Government is transferable to the other government, whose loan is still open for subscription, at the option of the subscriber. These are mostly concentrated in the slack seasons.
Types of Trading:
The RBI practices the dealing in Government Securities in the following manner:
a) Grooming: Grooming is the gradual acquisition of securities by
the RBI, which are nearing maturity through the Stock Exchanges. It is done in order to facilitate redemption. The object is to keep the process of issue and redemption of Government Securities contineous and thereby facilitate availability of the securities on tap
b) Switching: The Purchases of one security and Sale of another
securities carried out by the RBI in the secondary market as part of its open market operations is known as Switching. It helps the banks and financial institutions to improve the yield on their investments in securities. The RBI also fixes an annual quota for the Switch Transactions of each institution.
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bid against one another and the securities are sold to the highest bidder. This system was introduced in 1992. Under this mechanism a number of instruments of wide trading period are sold. The period ranges from 14 days to 364 days. The Bidders give written and sealed quotations which are restricted to notified amounts. There are two types of auction, multiple price auctions and uniform price auction. Under the multiple price auction every bidder gets allocation according to his bid and the issuer collect the premium from all the bidders by quoting a rate lower than the cut-off yield. Under the uniform price auction, competitive bids are accepted on the basis of the minimum discounted price known as cut-off-price. The price is determined at the auction. The minimum price is independent of the bid prices tendered below or at the cut-off-price.
Trading Mechanism:
Trading mechanism in Government Securities carried out under the following methods.
i.
Direct Sales: Under this method, Public Debt effect direct sale of securities. The loan amounts are pre-specified and the dates of opening of subscription for Government loans are also specified.
ii.
SGL Account Method: Under this method RBI records the transactions as book entries only in the Securities General Ledger (SGL). The date and value of transaction are recorded. The purchasing banker maintains a separate SGL account for each dealing with the RBI in respect of its purchases of securities. The selling banker also
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Government Securities Market in India effects his transactions by filling out the prescribed SGL form, which is then lodged with the RBI. It helps to the banks to know their day to day balances.
iii.
Bankers Receipt: Under this method, the bank selling Government Securities issues a Bank Receipt. There are facilities for SGL where physical transfer can be avoided. This is done in case of repo or ready forward transactions. It is a sale transaction, which buys back the securities at a stipulated future date at a price determined on the date of sale transaction. Under the repo short operations are conducted by banks which Sell government securities without owning them with a view to neutralizing the transaction by buying them at a later date.
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Government Securities Market in India It is also expected to enhance the operational and informational efficiency of the market as well as the transparency depth and liquidity. The Participation in the Secondary market in Government Securities is restricted to banks, financial institutions, Mutual funds, Foreign Institutional Investors and Trusts. There is no country-wide access for retail participation. The trades are done through negotiations, with the knowledge of counter parties and usually over the phone rather than the trades being matched on an anonymous automated price time priority mechanism. At present most of the Secondary market trades in Government Securities take place thorough bilateral negotiations. It is essentially a telephone market where the deals are negotiated directly by counter parties who are usually banks and other financial institutions or brokers. Since February, 2002, the RBI is providing an electric platform called Negotiated Dealing System (NDS) for facilitated negotiated dealings in Government Securities. The NDS also provides an interface to the Securities Settlement System of the Public Debt office of the RBI. All outright trades in Government Securities done or reported on the NDS have the facility of guaranteed settlement extended by the Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL) through the process of novation. Only the NDS members can route their deals done among themselves for settlement through the CCIL. Outright transactions in Government Securities for Cut-off amount of Rs. 20 crores and below (face value) and all repo trades are settled through the CCIL. For outright transactions of face value above Rs. 20 crores option is available to members to settle either directly through the RBI-SGL or through the CCIL. For outright
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Government Securities Market in India transactions of face value above Rs. 20 crores option is available to members to settle either directly through the RBI-SGL or through the CCIL. The objective of the NDS is to provide online price information of transactions in Government Securities.RBI has also permitted the banks and financial institutions to transact in debt instruments among themselves or with non-bank clients through the member of the NSE, BSE, and OTCEI. The NSE provides a separate wholesale Debt Market Segment.
CHAPTER 10
The size of debt is a function of macro-economic policy and there is on ongoing dialogue between RBI and the Government on the issue. The size of market borrow in has an impact on the interest rates, as largescale pre-emption of resources by the government puts pressure on liquidity in the market and as a result interest rates tend to go up. RBIs exclusive role becomes important in the matter of short-term liquidity management in the financial system. World over Central banks operate in the Short-term market to influence liquidity conditions so that short-term interest rates, do not unduly impact the medium and long-term interest rated in the economy. In the USA and UK, open market operations in government securities for the purpose of monetary management have become limited with the growth of government debt. A combination of policies of trading in treasury bills for monetary management and in the Government Securities for debt management is adopted by them. In India, treading in treasury bills is also used for the purpose of government financing. It has not been used actively for affecting bank reserves. Favorable conditions in the Government Securities market cannot be maintained merely by not varying interest rates on Government Securities. It also requires the rejection of the traditional monetary policy, which relies on Bank rate variations to influence economic activity. In the free, market, variations in the Bank rate ought to cause variations in interest rates on government Securities and their prices. The RBI has been holding in its portfolio only Central government securities, as a matter of policy. The Government Securities held by it are
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Government Securities Market in India partly held in the form of assets of the issue department and partly in the banking department. The Securities held in Banking Department are available for sale by the RBI under its open Market Operations. The open market operations are conducted by way of purchase and sale of Central Government Securities by the RBI on outright basis or on repo basis. The repo operations of the RBI address the system liquidity is basically short term in nature and purchase and sale of securities on outright basis is long-term in nature because it causes long-term changes in the bank reserves.
CHAPTER 11
Recent Developments
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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
The RBI has undertaken reforms in the Government Securities Market. The RBI has started providing liquidity support with regard to mutual funds that are dedicated exclusively to investment in Government Securities. The purpose is to create an enhanced and wider investor base for such securities. The support is made available to mutual funds to the extent of 20 percent of outstanding investment in Government Securities, either by way of outright purchase or reverses repos, Banks and selected entities are permitted to carry out Ready Forward (REPO) transactions in government Securities. As regards to Market to Market valuation of Government Securities, the ratio of investment classified in current category for public sector banks has been raised from 40 percent to 50 percent and for the new private sector banks it has been fixed at 100 percent of their investments. The RBI has extended the Delivery v/s payment system with
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Government Securities Market in India regard to auctioning of treasury bills with effect from February 14, 1996 to the banks. With effect from October 21, 1997 all categories of foreign Institutional investors were allowed by the RBI to make Investment in Government Securities that are registered with and approved by the SEBI for making investments in gilt-edged securities has been permitted up to a ceiling of 30 percent in debt instruments. As per amended guidelines of June, 1998 equity funds were permitted to invest in dated Government Securities and Treasury bills, both in Primary and Secondary Markets within their 30 percent debt ceiling. Uniform price auction was introduced on November 6, 1998 regarding the auction of 91 days Treasury bills on an experimental basis. With effect from June, 23, 1998. Satellite Dealers were permitted to issue commercial paper with maturity ranging from 15 days to one year. There were some conditions. The issue should be made within a period of 2 months of obtaining credit rating and every renewal is treated as a fresh issue. The issue should be made in the multiple of Rs. 5 lakhs with a minimum of investment by a single investor being Rs. 25 lakhs. The aggregate limit is raised within two weeks from the date of RBI approval and the issue is not underwritten or co-accepted in any manner. The RBI and the Government have made arrangement for the setting up of a clearing corporation to provide for the opening of the repo market to PSU bonds and bonds of financial institutions held in demat form in depositories and traded in recognized Stock Exchanges with essential safeguards.
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CHAPTER 12
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Government Securities Market in India Repo contract provides the seller-bank to get money by parting with its security and the buyer-bank in turn to get the security by parting with its money. The prices of sale and repurchase of securities are determined before entering into the deal. Repos, being collateralized loans, help to reduce counter party risk and fetch a low interest rate. It is possible to use repos as an effective hedge tool to arrange another repo or to sell them outright or to deliver them to another party to fulfill a delivery commitment in respect of a forward or future contract on a short sale. Repo is an almost risk-free instrument used to even out liquidity changes in the system. It offers safe short-term outlet for temporary excess cash at close to market interest rates. Repos are used to finance securities held in trading and investment accounts of security dealers to establish short positions, to implement arbitrage activities and meeting specific customer needs because of lowrisk and flexible short-term instruments. They also offer low-cost investment opportunities with combinations of yields and liquidity. It is possible to enhance the safety of repo transaction by making the security price to the market and by providing a margin on the security value. The Repo arrangement serves as a short-term cash management tool. The RBI uses repos as a tool of liquidity control for absorbing surplus-liquidity from the banking system in a flexible way and thereby preventing interest rate arbitraging. A Reverse Repo is the opposite of a repo transaction. It is a reverse purchase agreement. The counter party enters into a reverse repurchase agreement and makes a short-term collateralized loan to the bank, the primary dealer or the seller of securities. This is done by providing funds
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Government Securities Market in India in return for holding securities on the maturity of the reverse repurchase transaction, the counter party returns the same security to the same bank and the primary dealer receives back the funds from the buyer. The amount received by the buyer is the principal plus interest. The interest is termed as the repo rate. This arrangement allows banks to make efficient use of their funds.
CHAPTER 13
Conclusion
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CONCLUSION:
The Market in Government Securities is significant part of the Stock market in India. The marketable debt issued by Government and Semi-Government bodies which represents a claim on the Government is called Government Securities. A market where the Government Securities are bought and sold is called Government Securities market. The securities of Central and State Government are issued in the form of Stock Certificates, promissory notes and Bearer bonds. A Treasury bill is a particular kind of finance bill or a promissory note put out by the Government of the country, Auctioning is a method of trading whereby merchants bid against one another and where the securities are sold to the highest bidder. Government Securities are unique and important financial instruments in the financial market. The size of annual floatations of securities has gone up from 75 crores in 1960-61 to Rs. 7015 crores in 1988-89 in case of Central
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Government Securities Market in India Government Securities and from Rs. 67 crores to Rs. 2074 crores in case of State Government Securities in the same period. The preparation of Government Securities in the same period. The preparation of Government Securities owned by the RBI has gone down, In order to encourage wider participation of all classes of investors across the country in Government Securities, the government, RBI and SEBI have introduced trading in Government Securities through a nation-wide, anonymous, order-driven screen based trading system of Stock Exchanges. The participants in Government Securities are Central and State Government, banking sector Insurance, Companies, Provident funds and Special financial institutions. Joint Stock Companies, Local authorities, Trust and individuals as well as non-residents also participate in this market. The face value of the Government Securities is Rs. 100 or Rs. 1000 and there is a practice of issuing these Securities at a discount. The gross redemption and running yields in Government Securities have been increasing and it is in the range of 8 to 10%. The management of gilt-edged market has a considerable bearing on the advances and liquidity of commercial bank so as to help the monetary policy. The RBI has undertaken various reforms in the Government Securities market in India.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
SR.N O 1 NAME OF THE SOURCE AUTHOR
FINANCIAL MARKETS
TAXMANN
V.A. AVADHANI
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