Liquidity position comfortable

The I-Sec report said that the considering the current macro economic outlook which looks somewhat better, the investment banking arm of ICICI said that it was expecting a 20 per cent growth in corporate offtake from the banking system in this fiscal. During the current fiscal till July 31, theoutflow from the banking system on account of non-food credit and corporate investment was to the tune of Rs 4,100 crore while for the whole year the incremental outflow is expected to be Rs 68,000 crore.

I-Sec has estimated a Rs 1,00,000 crore increase in the deposit base in 1999-2000. quot;Growth till July 31 has amounted to Rs 31,485 crore. The balance Rs 70,000 crore is expected to ensure comfortable liquidity particularly as RBI can reduce 1-1.5 per cent of cash reserve ratio CRR as and when required and also resort to private placements during periods of temporary tightness. Further, an expected 20 per cent growth in corporate demand would most likely be coupled with strong portfolio and direct foreign flows implying robust deposit growth,quot; the report said.

I-sec adds that as calendar 1999 draws to a close, concerns are being voiced about the possible impact on deposits due to Y2K. Growth in bank deposits may come down in the last quarter of the calendar year.