Equity Market Review

Mr. Shridatta Bhandwaldar
Head - Equities

Equity Market Update

• In the month of Sep’23, equity markets remained quite volatile but went north with Nifty 50 rising by 2.00% on m-o-m basis as investors continued to cheer the upbeat domestic economic data. Strong buying in some of the index heavyweights helped to underpin the market sentiments.
  
• Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net sellers in Indian equities to the tune of ¹ -14767.37 crores
  
• Goods and Services Tax (GST) shows highest ever collection of ¹ 1.62 lakh crore for Sep’23, marking the fourth highest monthly collection since the inception and a 10% more than the corresponding period of last year and this points towards the growing trajectory of the Indian economy.
  
• The combined index of eight core industries grew at 12.1% on a yearly basis in Aug’23. All the sectors have seen positive growth on yearly basis. Cement witnessed maximum growth of 18.9% in Aug’23 followed by Coal with 17.9% growth.
  
• Though continuous selling by foreign funds and hawkish commentary by US Federal Reserve which indicated that the global interest rates would stay higher for longer period, higher bond yields & crude oil prices restricted the gains.
  
• Globally, US Equity Markets fell as concerns about the outlook for interest rates continued to weigh on the markets after the U.S. Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged. European equity markets fell as U.S. Federal Reserve and Bank of England stated to keep interest rates unchanged. Asian equity markets too remained under pressure amid continuing concerns about the Chinese economy.

Equity Market Outlook

Global macro environment remains complex with persistent inflation at higher level than expected (although its moderating on annualized basis), delayed recession in US (resilient households despite high interest rates), persistent supply chain challenges and geopolitical re-alignment and its long-term implications for supply chains. Substantial increase in US yield to 4.6% during last month and oil price moving back to >$90/bbl has increased risks further. Within this complexity, the underlying Inflation (except UK) seems to be moderating. Unfortunately, the energy prices have again started moving up because of production cuts by OPEC/Russia. Global compression in money supply, higher interest rates and moderation in growth everywhere (except India) is gradually flowing into lower inflation. Expect further reduction of inflation and energy/commodity prices in the next 3-4 quarters. While the CPI inflation has been moderating, US growth data points are far more positive than earlier expected; indicating that the rate increases are here to stay for more time than expected – a EM flow negative. Expect one more interest rate increase of 25bps, which will take terminal US interest rates to 5.5%-5.75%. Combination of slowing growth, yet sticky inflation is an outcome of healthy US household/Private balance sheets, challenged supply chains, which are taking time to correct itself. Geopolitical tensions are taking time to abate and are only getting complex. Given these tensions, supply chains and global trade has become vulnerable to new dimension in 2023, missing till 2022. This will mean that the developed world will see growth moderation through FY24/25. Commercial real estate in the developed market seems like a risk area to us due to the increase in interest rates over last - one year. EU is already in recession and China has failed to show any growth uptick post opening of economy. India remains one of the differentiated markets in terms of growth and earnings.

In our worldview, 1) the Liquidity, 2) Growth and 3) Inflation surfaced post monetary and fiscal expansion in CY20-21 in that order and they will reverse in the same order during CY22-24. We have already witnessed liquidity reversal in the last few quarters (although was forced to reverse due to the banking crisis); growth has started receding (Europe is already in recession, US is slowing and China is very weak) and inflation will be the last one to moderate. We have seen an initial downtick in inflation, which will accelerate in our view over next few quarters. Inflation is taking more time than usual to recede given healthy household savings in US, elevated energy prices, tight labor markets and challenged supply chains in China.

Indian macro remains resilient. CAD has improved significantly and is expected to be within <1.5% for FY24. Most domestic macro and micro indicators remain steady. Given these aspects, the domestic equity market remains focused on earnings. Earnings growth (>15% earnings CAGR FY23-25E) remains relatively far better than most EM/DM markets though the cost of capital (unexpectedly) is turning adverse for the markets. While the earnings are not getting upgraded significantly yet; they are resilient and seems to be bottoming. Financials, auto, industrials, Cement, Telecom, Hospital and Hotels are witnessing a healthy earnings cycle whereas Energy/commodities, chemicals and IT continues to face headwinds. Indian equity market trades at 21xFY24 and 18FY25 earnings – with earnings CAGR of >15% over FY23-25E – in a fair valuation zone from medium term perspective – given longevity of earnings cycle in India. The broader market has moved up >25% in last 6 months -capturing near term earnings valuation positives for FY24/25. Expect a rollover return as the earnings rollover to FY25/26. Given the upfronting of returns in mid and small caps (aided by very strong flows also), valuation premium of mid/small caps over past; we are more constructive on large caps from next 2-3 quarters perspective.

Having said this on near term earnings /market context, we believe that Indian economy is in a structural upcycle which will come to fore as global macroeconomic challenges recede over next few quarters. Our belief on domestic economic up-cycle stems from the fact that the enabling factor are in place viz. 1) Corporate and bank balance sheets are in best possible shape to drive capex and credit respectively, 2) Consumer spending remains resilient through cycle given our demographics, 3) Govt is focused on growth through direct investments in budget as well as through reforms like GST(increasing tax to GDP), lower corporate tax and ease of doing business (attracting private capex), PLIs( private capital through incentives for import substitution or export ecosystem creation) and 4) Accentuated benefits to India due to global supply chain re-alignments due to geopolitics. This makes us very constructive on India equities with 3-5years view. We believe that India is in a business cycle / credit growth cycle through FY23-26E – indicating starting of healthy earnings cycle from medium term perspective.

Source: ICRA MFI Explorer