2015-05-21

India Details Freegold Framework

Gold Savings Account:
• When the customer produces the certificate of gold deposited at the Purity Testing Centre, the bank will in turn open a ‘Gold Savings Account’ for the customer and credit the ‘quantity’ of gold into the customer’s account. Simultaneously, the Purity Verification Centre will also inform the bank about the deposit made.
Interest payment by banks:
•The bank will commit to paying an interest to the customer which will be payable after 30/60 days of opening of the Gold Savings Account. The amount of interest rate to be given is proposed to be left to the banks to decide. Both principal and interest to be paid to the depositors of gold, will be ‘valued’ in gold. For example if a customer deposits 100 gms of gold and gets 1 per cent interest, then, on maturity he has a credit of 101 gms.
Redemption:
•The customer will have the option of redemption either in cash or in gold, which will have to be exercised in the beginning itself (that is, at the time of making the deposit).
Tenure:
•The tenure of the deposit will be minimum 1 year and with a roll out in multiples of one year. Like a fixed deposit, breaking of lock-in period will be allowed.
Tax Exemption:
In the Gold Deposit Scheme (1999), the customers received exemption from Capital Gains Tax, Wealth tax and Income Tax. Similar tax exemptions are likely to be made available to the customers in the GMS after due examination.
Here's a crucial section:
The banks can directly get gold from the international market on a consignment basis and lend it to the jewellers. If this route is more lucrative, then the entire purpose will get defeated. Thus, this aspect will also have to be kept in mind, while deciding the interest rate.
Random thoughts: If foreigners want to lend gold to Indian banks (deposit it), what happens to the rupee price of gold? Economics 101 and the gold standard says the rupee price of gold declines. Is that gold a capital inflow or a trade deficit? What happens if Modi announces that India will finance its massive infrastructure build out with gold backed loans? The returns to the economy will far exceed to cost of the low interest rates attached to gold loans.

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