Newsmakers: RIL bond issue, Audi A6 Matrix sedan and more

Audi launches A6 Matrix sedan at Rs 49.5 lakh
German luxury carmaker Audi on Thursday launched an updated version of A6 sedan in India, priced at Rs 49.5 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The updated version, Audi A6 Matrix, comes with a new engine comprising seven-speed S-tronic transmission, Matrix LED headlights and an advanced infotainment system.

Govt steps up rate cut pressure on RBI
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is stepping up pressure on the RBI to cut rates as the economy struggles and price rises slow, with some bureaucrats working behind the scenes to argue for an immediate cut of as much as 50 basis points. After another weak quarter of corporate earnings and July inflation that undershot the central bank's medium-term target, Jaitley has made direct, public calls for faster easing, clashing with far more cautious comments from a conservative Reserve Bank of India governor, Raghuram Rajan.

RIL raises Rs 1,468 crore via overseas bond issue
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) said on Thursday it has raised $225 million (about Rs 1,468 crore) through overseas bond issue due in 2026, guaranteed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States. In a BSE filing, Reliance Industries said it has "priced an offering of $225 million, 2.512 per cent on notes due in 2026 guaranteed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Teaser loans again? SBI asks RBI to allow sub-base rate loans
The piling inventory levels of realty players today brought the controversial 'teaser loans' back into focus, with the largest lender State Bank of India asking RBI to allow lenders to sell loans below the base rates. Echoing the need for developers to bring down prices, SBI Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya reminded RBI governor Raghuram Rajan about the introduction of the teaser loan product, where it used to lend below the base rate or the minimum rate of lending, saying the product was able to revive demand in the days after the 2008 crisis.

Sebi proposes relaxed norms for infra investment trusts
To make it easier to raise funds for infrastructure projects from capital markets, Sebi on Thursday proposed to relax its norms for Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) by lowering the sponsors' mandatory holding to 10 per cent and by allowing greater operational flexibilities.