Societe Generale purchased over 31 lakh shares of RBL Bank in bulk deals. The transaction was valued at Rs 79 crore. RBL Bank's shares closed lower amid weak market sentiment. Nifty and Sensex also experienced declines. RBL Bank's recent financial results showed a decrease in net profit.

Societe Generale buys stake worth Rs 79 crore in RBL Bank via bulk deal

Societe Generale Makes Major RBL Bank Investment

French banking giant Societe Generale made a significant move in the Indian market, purchasing over 31 lakh shares of RBL Bank in bulk deals on Thursday. The transaction totaled approximately Rs 79 crore, with shares acquired at a 2% discount to Tuesday's closing price (Rs 250.57 per share).

Market Volatility Impacts RBL Bank: Despite the substantial investment, RBL Bank's shares closed at Rs 253 on the NSE, a slight decrease of 0.94% amidst broader market weakness. The Indian indices experienced sharp declines, attributed to US tariffs and monthly expiry concerns. Banks, IT, and FMCG stocks were particularly affected, with the Nifty falling 0.85% and the Sensex dropping 0.87%.

Societe Generale's Net Purchase: The day saw multiple bulk deals involving Societe Generale and RBL Bank. While the bank sold a smaller number of shares (over 1.29 lakh) at Rs 251.19 apiece, the net result was a substantial buy-in for Societe Generale.

Strong RBL Bank Performance: RBL Bank shares have shown impressive growth, delivering 12% returns in the past 12 months, outperforming the Nifty and Sensex which have each declined by nearly 2%.
Year-to-Date Gains: The stock has rallied a remarkable 60% year-to-date.
Technical Indicators: RBL Bank's share price is currently trading above its 200-day simple moving average (SMA) but below its 50-day SMA, indicating volatility (data from Trendlyne).
High Volatility: The stock exhibits significant volatility, reflected in its 1-year beta of 1.2.

Q1 FY26 Earnings Report: RBL Bank reported a standalone net profit of Rs 200.33 crore for Q1 FY26, a 46% year-on-year decline compared to Q1 FY25. This decrease was attributed to factors including weaker interest income and increased operating expenses.

Net Interest Income (NII) Decline: NII fell 13% year-on-year to Rs 1,481 crore.
Operating Profit Contraction: Operating profit decreased by 18% year-on-year to Rs 703 crore.
Rising Expenses: Operating expenses increased by 12% year-on-year to Rs 1,847 crore.

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