Record equity divestment by the Reliance Group in its telecom and retail businesses garnering around $23 billion revved up the deal street in 2020, which otherwise would have gone down as one of the dullest on record, and dealmakers are seeing sunnier days in 2021 given the large scope for consolidation in a slew of sectors ravaged by the pandemic. With Jio Platforms alone garnering over $16 billion (Rs 1,18,318 crore) by selling 25.24 per cent stake and Reliance Retail notching up $6.4 billion (Rs 47,265 crore) by divesting around 9 per cent shareholding, the deal street signed off with $85 billion in the deal kitty across 1,270 transactions. This is higher by about 10 per cent over 2019. What is significant is that over a third of the total deal value came from Reliance transactions, say investment bankers.
Small stocks made a dashing comeback in 2020 after delivering negative returns in the last two years as increased retail investor participation in pandemic times saw small-cap index surging up to 31 per cent and outperforming the bigger benchmark gauge. This year turned out to be eventful for the equity market, witnessing bearish and bullish sentiments at different points of time. While the initial part of COVID-ravaged 2020 saw the bears in full force amid concerns related to the pandemic and lockdowns hurting economic activities, bulls made a comeback towards the latter half of the year. As the market swayed with many lows as well as highs, small and mid-cap indices emerged as markets favourites in 2020.
The US Fed will decide if it should raise interest rates from near-zero levels first time in a decade.
Analysts said even though the Indian economy is expected to slow down to 7.2 per cent in fiscal 2020, it is still the best bet for investment for foreign investors.
Growth remains weak, inflation is within 2-6% range, rate cut would help recoup forex reserves
Market watchers believe that the change in guidelines fly in the face of some of the recent initiatives taken by the government, such as easing norms for foreign portfolio investors.
Long-term investors should consider moving into smaller stocks. Rather than try to pick stocks, it makes sense to build a diversified portfolio by exposure across midcap and small caps funds, suggests Devangshu Datta.
Gold, forex assets, IT sector, pharma. Devangshu Datta explains why each of these is a good hedge against market shocks at this time.
The broader Nifty too fell for the second straight session and closed with a loss of over 62 points, or 0.54 per cent, at 11,520.30, after hovering between 11,496.85 and 11,602.55.
FPIs would be classified into two categories instead of three, while the requirements for issuance and subscription of offshore derivative instruments would be rationalised.
Rupee hits 2-month low against dollar on US rate hike fears.
The new norms provide an operational framework for FPIs, a new class of overseas investors that club all existing class of investors like foreign institutional investors and Qualified Foreign Investors.
Today, it holds $131 billion in assets under management.
The rupee surged to its highest level in five weeks to end at 65.58 by gaining 38 paise against the US currency.
A host of factors including the reform measures taken by the government and decline in global oil and commodity prices have led to lower inflation, the Finance Ministry said on Wednesday.
The rupee closed at Rs 66.21 in its last trading session.
As and when the GST comes in, Budget projections will have to be unbundled and revised. In fact, the pragmatic decision would be to present another Budget! This makes the passage of the Finance Bill with its multiple unrelated amendments seem even more dubious, says Devangshu Datta.
The Budget emphasises on capacity building and empowerment of marginalised sections of society including farmers.
'As the growth momentum reverses benefiting from re-monetisation, it will be accompanied by a rise in inflation.'
Various global and domestic factors had a sizable impact on the performance of the Indian markets
Besides higher tax outgo, P-note issuers are worried about operational difficulties
Rupee hits 2-month low, down 21 paise against dollar.
'For those looking at forward-looking signals for the economy from the stock markets, the relative performance of small and mid-caps may be a better indicator of the future than the index levels of the narrower and more popular indices', says Neelkanth Mishra.
According to the committee, single overseas investments of more than 10 per cent in a company should be considered as Foreign Direct Investment while those less than 10 per cent should be classified as foreign portfolio investment.
Signing of the pact will hopefully end stock market uncertainty that came with the mention of the M-name
For current financial year, govt plans to borrow Rs 2.88 trillion in the first half of 2018-19, out of Rs 6.05 trillion planned for entire year
The Reserve Bank of India has already reduced the policy rate by a total of 75 basis points, or 0.75 per cent, since January.
'... Whether an incumbent is voted back or a coalition forms a new government except for a temporary disruption for a few weeks.'
Since December 2018, monetary policy has been eased substantially by RBI with policy rates being cut by 75 bps and policy outlook being changed to 'accommodative'.
If the rupee falls further, it would negatively impact the dollar-based returns of foreign investors, and could influence foreign flows into India.
Being one of the early commentators to flag economic slowdown and caution investors on corporate earnings, Gautam Chhaochharia, head of India research, UBS Securities, in an interview with Hamsini Karthik says the markets remain in an expensive zone despite the recent correction.
Indian economy was growing faster than the global average and all other major economies: FM
The government would also take steps to promote exports and restrict non-essential imports, said Jaitley
Sitharaman further said that to mitigate genuine difficulties of start-ups and their investors, government has decided to withdraw angel tax provisions for them.
The government is also working on Euroclearing, the world's biggest bond settlement system, for Indian debt securities.
Central bank moves to infuse liquidity into bond market to help boost sentiment.
Currently, FPIs can invest up to $30 billion in Government securities, of which $5 billion is reserved for long-term investors.
Sebi is looking at further tightening the norms for P-Notes to address concerns raised by the Special Investigation Team on black money.
Auchan and another French retailer, Carrefour, exited India in 2014
Forex dealers said dollar's weakness against other currencies overseas supported the rupee.
