December 22: Due to excess liquidity (investable capital) in banks and financial institutions, the interest rate of development bonds has fallen to the lowest level in two years. The interest rate of five-year development bonds worth Rs 7 billion sold by the government on Thursday remained at 5.65 percent.

Prior to this, the interest rate of development bond had dropped to 5.65 percent in October 2021. During last December, the interest rate of bonds reached as high as 10.93 percent due to the liquidity crisis. In the current fiscal year (FY), interest rates of banks have decreased due to non-disbursement of loans compared to the increase in deposits collection of banks.

The interest rate of bonds issued earlier this year was maintained at 7 percent. Due to excess liquidity, banks have started reducing interest rates on deposits and have started investing in bonds and treasury bills.

The government is also raising internal debt by changing its revenue collection schedule.

As of Tuesday, banks had deposits of Rs 6027 billion and extended loans of Rs 5002 billion. In the current fiscal year, bank deposits have increased by Rs 256 billion, but the credit flow stands at Rs 124 billion.

Due to excess liquidity, the inter-bank interest rate is below the target limit despite the central bank raising around Rs 172.25 billion by issuing deposit collection tools dozens of times in one month. Of that amount, Rs 75 billion have already matured and have been returned to the market.

On Tuesday, the average interbank interest rate was 2.71 percent. According to the interest rate corridor, this interest rate should be maintained above 3 percent.

As the interbank interest rate is still below the limit, the central bank announced its decision to issue a 14-day deposit collection tools worth Rs 25 billion on Friday. The central bank had mopped Rs 25 billion through deposit collection tools on Wednesday as well.

On Tuesday, the average credit-deposit ratio (CD ratio) of banks remained at 80.21 percent. As per the provision that banks can give loans by maintaining the CD ratio up to 90 percent, banks are in a position to extend loans by an additional Rs 600 billion.

Due to excess liquidity in the banking system, the central bank has reduced the policy rates through the first quarterly review of the monetary policy. Banks have also reduced interest rates.