India Inc s credit ratings saw more upgrades than downgrades during October-March 2024, despite challenges like rising borrowing costs and supply constraints due to geopolitical issues. Strong domestic consumption and government infrastructure spending contributed to this trend. Sectors like roads, renewables, and hospitality drove upgrades, while export-oriented sectors faced downgrades. The credit ratio stabilized at pre-COVID levels, indicating positive credit quality outlook for fiscal 2025. However, uncertainties like monsoons and geopolitical landscape changes remain potential risks.
S&P Global Ratings has announced that the proposed power-tariff review regulations for the five-year tariff period starting FY25 will support new power-sector investments and credit profiles of entities in the sector. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has kept the return on equity for thermal units unchanged at 15.5%.
Indian companies have been witnessing an improvement in credit profiles as low interest rates since 2020 lowered cost of funds and improved profitability. But that has changed since. In the past year, interest rates have soared and inflation has eaten into profit margins.
Crisil projects capital expenditure to amount to ₹55,000-60,000 crore per year, nearly double the average annual spending over the previous five fiscal years