In this Aug. 7, 2019, file photo, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das speaks during a press conference in Mumbai, India. India’s central bank on Friday, May 22, 2020, cut its key interest rate to 4% to revive the economy severely hit the coronavirus outbreak and a two-month lockdown. Reserve Bank of India Governor Das also said India's gross domestic product in financial 2020-21 was expected to have negative growth. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade, File)
An Indian laborer walks with his bicycle past a bread shop before it opens in the morning in Kochi, Kerala state, India, Friday, May 22, 2020. India's central bank on Friday cut its key interest rate to 4% to revive the economy severely hit the coronavirus outbreak and a two-month lockdown. (AP Photo/R S Iyer)
Electricity board workers hold placards in solidarity with Friday's nationwide trade union protest before starting the day's work in Kochi, Kerala state, India, Friday, May 22, 2020. India's central bank on Friday cut its key interest rate to 4% to revive the economy severely hit the coronavirus outbreak and a two-month lockdown. (AP Photo/R S Iyer)
Indian laborers wearing masks arrive for work in the morning in Kochi, Kerala state, India, Friday, May 22, 2020. India's central bank on Friday cut its key interest rate to 4% to revive the economy severely hit the coronavirus outbreak and a two-month lockdown. (AP Photo/R S Iyer)
People walk past a market area in Kohima, capital of the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, Friday, May 22, 2020. India’s central bank on Friday cut its key interest rate to 4% to counter the blow to the economy from the coronavirus pandemic and a lockdown meant to contain it. The restrictions are scheduled to last through the end of May, but some have been relaxed, with shops gradually reopening and manufacturing and farming resuming. (AP Photo/Yirmiyan Arthur)
NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s central bank on Friday cut its key interest rate to 4% to counter the blow to the economy from the coronavirus pandemic and a lockdown meant to contain it.
Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das forecast that the economy will contract in fiscal 2020-21. He did not give a specific figure. The IMF earlier forecast that India’s economic growth will fall to 1.9% in this fiscal year from 4.2% in 2019 and 6.1% in 2018. Some private sector economists expect it to contract by as much as 5%.
The Reserve Bank of India had reduced the interest rate to 4.4% from 5.15% in March to ease financing woes from the pandemic. The 4% rate announced Friday is the lowest the benchmark rate, the interest the central bank charges on lending to commercial banks, has been since March 2010.
In a policy meeting, the central bank said it would allow banks a 6-month moratorium on payments of installments on loans.
Das said data point to a collapse in demand in both the cities and the countryside, with plunging investment and consumer spending.
“High frequency indicators of service sector activity such as passenger and commercial vehicle sales, domestic air passenger traffic and foreign tourist arrivals also experienced sizeable contractions in March,'' he said.
India’s merchandise trade slumped in April 2020, with exports shrinking by 60.3% and imports by 58.6%. There was a glimmer of hope, however, in a bumper winter crop of wheat and forecasts for a normal monsoon season in June-September, he said.
Das's announcement followed the recent announcement of a 20 trillion rupee ($266 billion) fiscal and monetary package to support the economy. Millions of workers have fled cities after losing their jobs as authorities imposed lockdowns to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The restrictions are scheduled to last through the end of May, but some have been relaxed, with shops gradually reopening and manufacturing and farming resuming. Train services and public transport have been partially restored, and domestic flights are expected to resume at one-third of capacity on selected routes from Monday.
6 Stocks That May Not Survive the Coronavirus
Companies that are in a shaky financial position may sometimes attract investors in a bull market. Traders seeking a short-term profit can often use an oversold condition to capture a quick gain. But in a bear market, these companies frequently are left on the sidelines.
But a declining stock price by itself should not be enough to scare investors off. What investors really need to pay attention to is the company’s ability to finance existing debt or take on additional debt. Companies with low credit ratings face the problem of having too much debt on their books and an inability to finance it at more favorable rates.
That’s one reason we’ve put together this presentation that highlights 6 companies that may not survive the coronavirus. These companies have low stock prices. In fact, many of them are, or will be, in danger of being delisted if they cannot bring their stock above the $1 threshold. And on top of that, these companies each carry credit ratings of CCC+ or lower and are at risk of seeing those ratings even go lower.
Each of the companies presented here are considered to be among the weakest, if not the weakest, in their sector. If you have any of these falling knives in your portfolio now is the time to cut your losses and walk away.
View the "6 Stocks That May Not Survive the Coronavirus".
