Kotak Bank reported a steady operational quarter in 2QFY19 with PPoP for the standalone bank up 21.5% YoY. However, provisions remained slightly elevated in 2QFY19 as the bank continued to shore up its PCR (up 200bps sequentially to 63%), as well as due to elevated MTM provisions on the investments book. As a result, standalone PAT growth was moderate (+15% YoY), although growth in consol. PAT was healthy at 21%. We believe that the reduction in margin for KMB (down 10bps QoQ to 4.2%), could well be transient, as the loan book (predominantly linked to 6-m MCLR) gets re-priced. Management indicated that the outlook for risk-adjusted margins for KMB seems to be positive, driven by a reduction in...