Expert Zone
Straight from the Specialists
In defence of the defensives: Why IT, pharma stocks are not pariahs
(Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters)
Expectation that the ongoing general election will throw up a stable government has spurred a return to risk in domestic equities. The consequent rally has meant those favoured defensives of the sluggish times – information technology and pharma stocks – received a shearing.
The CNX IT index shed 7.8 percent and CNX Pharma 10.1 percent in March – even as the benchmark Nifty surged 6.8 percent.
Assuming a strong government is indeed voted in, will it mean the two export-oriented sectors will become market pariahs? Unlikely.
The reason for this is not hard to find. Have a look at what was behind the recent weakness.
Third party premium for motor insurance increased
(Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters)
It is compulsory for every vehicle in India to have a third party insurance, which covers risks involving damage or loss to others caused by the vehicle you drive.
Since it is mandatory, the pricing has traditionally been administered by the insurance regulator, IRDA. With the price controlled and risk unlimited, the portfolio is bound to look messy.
The reform club
(Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters)
That custodian of the English language, the Oxford English Dictionary, describes a bubble as “anything fragile, unsubstantial, empty or worthless; a deceptive show”. Could this description apply to the current frenzy for “reform” that is seemingly sweeping the global economy? The answer is “yes, in part”. While there are some genuine attempts at reform, market expectations for reform will inevitably be disappointed in some parts of the world.
The global financial crisis has prompted politicians to advocate economic reform in two ways. First, the crisis demonstrated that the status quo needed to be changed — and in many cases that change required sizeable structural change. Second, as the structure of the world economy has changed (lower global capital flows, slower global trade, etc.) so economies have had to adapt the way that their economies are structured.
India Market Weekahead: Time to take some profits off the table
(Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters)
A rally of hope tempered by caution pushed the Nifty 1.2 percent up to 6,776 for the week. Investors believe the worst is over and a new government would be the catalyst for a sustained economic upturn. In election season, hope for a better tomorrow helps the market ignore ground realities.
A record turnout in the ongoing general election is being seen as an anti-incumbency vote. As the market continues moving up, investor hopes for a stable government get priced in, leaving hardly any room for a disappointment. On the other hand, fence sitters who got left out of the rally will join the fray, adding to the momentum already built by investors.
Steps the next government should take
(Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters)
India’s economy is tottering, inflation is too high and growth too low. The Congress-led UPA government allowed the economy to drift during its second term. Why? Because it did not focus on real issues, failed to govern effectively and did not carry out any significant reforms.
New legislation became almost impossible, with coalition partners such as the TMC and DMK threatening to pull out (and they eventually did). On top of that, successive scams made it impossible for the government to function normally.
India Market Weekahead: Ride the election rally with some caution
(Any opinions expressed here are not those of Thomson Reuters)
The Nifty touched a high of 6758 during the week, part of a market rally for 10 consecutive sessions – the longest streak in five years. An overdue correction set in towards the end of the week with the Nifty ending flat at 6694.
Advance-decline data suggests that interest is shifting to the small and mid-cap space where advances outpaced declines. Although we are touching new highs, the missing euphoria indicates investor caution that is good for the health of the market.
The election question
(This piece comes from Project Syndicate. The opinions expressed are the author’s own)
With street protests roiling democracies from Bangkok to Kyiv, the nature and legitimacy of elections are once again being questioned. Are popular elections an adequate criterion by which to judge a country’s commitment to democracy? Beginning next month, elections in Afghanistan and India will throw this question into even sharper relief.
India Markets Weekahead: Ride the election rally but skim the profits
(Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters)
The market began the week on a high note after an extended weekend but could not sustain the rally due to profit booking. The Nifty was at a high of 6570 on Tuesday but the rest of the trading days remained lackluster and it ended the week with a marginal loss – at 6495 after the extended trading session on Saturday.
Although the week was marked with heightened political activity as candidates for the general election were announced, the U.S Federal Reserve had a sobering effect on the markets. The Fed decision to continue with further tapering of $10 billion and focus on interest rates, which should start rising sooner than expected, saw corrections in most markets as the dollar strengthened.
How much inflation is good for growth
(Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters)
The RBI has left it to the government to decide the inflation target since it considers it politically sensitive. The central bank will accordingly modulate its monetary policy to ensure that the government’s target is not exceeded.
Targeting inflation alone cannot be the sole objective of monetary policy, though it is an important criterion for regulating the repo rate. Even developed countries have concerns about inflation – when it is too low or too high.
Health insurance sector poised for more growth
(Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters)
With the arrival of Ci
gna TTK, there are now five standalone health insurers offering products and services in India. Religare Health is also a recent entrant that started operations only last year.
At a time when we are seeing several exits in the life insurance sector, this is an indicator of the growth potential in India’s health insurance sector.
