Author - Pratik Mate

01 Jul

Higher Provisions due to increasing Covid-19 Cases to be made – SBI Life

Update on Indian Equity Market:

On Thursday, markets ended lower with Nifty closing 42 points to end at 15,680. DRREDDY (+2.8%), HINDALCO (+2.1%), and BJAT (+1.7%) were the top gainers on the index while BAJAJFINSV (-2.2%), BRITANNIA (-1.4%) and INFY(-1.2%) were the top losers for the day. 

Among the sectoral indices,  PHARMA (+0.9%),  AUTO (+0.8%), and FMCG (+0.4%) were the top gainers, while IT (-0.6%), FINANCIAL SERVICES (-0.4%), and PRIVATE BANK (-0.3%) were the top losers.

 

Excerpts of an interview with Mr. Mahesh Kumar Sharma, MD and CEO of SBI Life on CNBCTV18 dated 30th June 2021:

  • SBI Life Insurance saw a slowdown in their group business in May. The company only registered a growth of 1.35 percent in new business premium, owing to the lockdown.
  • On a YoY basis, the company saw higher claims in H2FY21 over H1FY21. To address the issue of higher claims, the company has taken steps to tackle the negative impact.
  • SBI Life has set aside a higher amount for provisions for any potential spike in Covid-19 claims Rs 1,830 mn vs Rs 400 mn in FY21 and has changed the mortality assumptions for better risk management.
  • If vaccinations continue at this rate, the company expects the full recovery to pre-covid levels by the end of this year. However, the company is confident of a spike in claims during the upcoming quarter.
  • Despite the lockdowns in May, the company expects positive performance due to lifting restrictions and a digital outreach system developed by the company to contact its customers.
  • Individual Non-single premiums are the biggest contributors to the company’s new business premiums due to raising awareness about health insurance and other products due to the pandemic. The company expects to maintain its growth trajectory in the new business premium in the mid-teens over the next few years. 
  • The company hasn’t changed its underwriting policy. The company is confident of the vaccination drive boosting the number of vaccinated insurable population and has no plans to reduce the scope of insurance to the only vaccinated population. 

Asset Multiplier Comments:

  • The insurance sector has been one of the worst-hit sectors due to Covid-19. With the effects of the pandemic tapering and an informed target customer base, there are better days ahead.
  • India’s insurance penetration is very low compared to developed countries. This industry has reached an inflection point from where SBI Life and its peers can achieve steady growth.

 

Consensus Estimates (Source: market screener website): 

  • The closing price of SBI Life was ₹1,007/- as of 1-July-2021.  It traded at 53x/ 46x the EPS estimate of ₹ 19/ ₹ 22  for FY22E/23E respectively.
  • The consensus price target is ₹ 1190/- which trades at 54x the EPS estimate for FY23E of ₹ 22/-
  • In the case of insurance companies, the embedded value per share is the correct multiple for valuing the company. The consensus estimate of this metric is not available on any of the websites.

Disclaimer: “The views expressed are for information purposes only. The information provided herein should not be considered as investment advice or research recommendation. The users should rely on their own research and analysis and should consult their own investment advisors to determine the merit, risks, and suitability of the information provided.”

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17 Jun

Provisions for slippages will affect short term outlook – LIC Housing Finance

Update on Indian Equity Market:

On Thursday, markets ended lower with Nifty losing 76 points to close at 15,691. ULTRACEMCO (+1.7%), TCS (+1.6%), and INFY (+1.4%) were the top gainers on the index while ADANIPORTS (-9.0%), INDUSINDBK (-3.0%), and HINDALCO (-3.0%) were the top losers for the day. Among the sectoral indices,  METAL (-2.3%),  REALTY (-1.7%), and PSU BANK (-1.4%) were the top losers, while IT (+0.6%) and FMCG (+0.1%) were the only gainers.

Excerpts of an interview with Mr Y Vishwanath Gawd, MD and CEO of LIC Housing Finance on CNBCTV18 dated 16th June 2021 :

  • Retail stress was the leading cause of slippages in non-performing assets (NPA). Substantial new provisions were needed to be made due to the Supreme Court Order last year, which compelled the company to make provisions in 4QFY21.
  • Project Finance and Developer Loans form just 7% of the loan book, so not much issue of NPAs there as the company has made adequate provisions for the loan book.
  • The One-time restructuring facility was provided last year by the government. Around 1.5-2% of the portfolio was restructured using the same facility, this year the company expects a similar restructuring process to be followed, the only concern will be an expectation of a longer repayment structure.
  • The disbursements grew over 97% YoY however the same was not reflected in the order book growth due to faster and larger repayments, consumers shifting their loans to other companies for better terms and restructuring offers during the pandemic.
  • Substantial reduction in the cost of funds has seen the margins improve to around 2.3-2.4% but the company expects margins to stabilise at these levels due to bottoming out of lending rates.
  • As far as the capital infusion is concerned, the company promoter LIC is investing through preferential allotment of 45.4 mn of equity shares which will further shore up leverage and provided much-needed cash impetus. 
  • The focus in FY22 will be to increase market penetration and further improve all the ratios to deliver better value and post incremental growth in the loan book portfolio.

Asset Multiplier Comments:

  • LIC Housing Finance has seen its NPA Provisions bottoming out due to the Supreme Court order. A substantial loan book growth, and improving margins will be the cause of higher growth rates going ahead.
  • As the stress from the Covid-19 pandemic subsides, the affordable housing industry will gather pace which promises better days for the company.

Consensus Estimates (Source: market screener website): 

  • The closing price of LIC Housing Finance was ₹480/- as of 17-June-2021.  It traded at 1.03x/ 0.92x the BVPS estimate of ₹ 462/ ₹ 518  for FY22E/23E respectively.
  • The consensus price target is ₹ 507/- which trades at 0.95x the BVPS estimate for FY23E of ₹ 518/-

Disclaimer: “The views expressed are for information purposes only. The information provided herein should not be considered as investment advice or research recommendation. The users should rely on their own research and analysis and should consult their own investment advisors to determine the merit, risks, and suitability of the information provided.”

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09 Jun

Growth opportunities ahead across all segments – Bharat Forge

Update on Indian Equity Market:

On Wednesday, markets ended lower with Nifty closing 105 points to close at 15,635. PowerGrid (3.9%), SBILIFE (1.8%), and NTPC (1.6%) were the top gainers on the index while TATA MOTORS (-2.6%), ADANIPORTS (-2.4%), SHREECEM (-2.0%) were the top losers for the day. Among the sectoral indices,  MEDIA (-2.1%),  REALTY (-1.7%), and AUTO (-1.3%) were the top losers, and there were no Sectoral gainers.

 

Excerpts of an interview with Mr. Baba Kalyani, CMD of Bharat Forge on CNBCTV18 dated 7th June 2021 :

 

  • Greenshoots have been seen in recovery over Q4FY21 despite lockdown, the industry is coming back to pre-covid levels but the management expects another quarter for things to fully recover.
  • Oxygen shortage affected steel supply due to the 2nd COVID wave in Q4, but significant recovery has been seen. The semiconductor supply shortage is still an issue but there’s no reduction in demand for chassis and powertrains.
  • Exports have seen tremendous growth across all segments over FY19 levels, and the company is benefiting from shifting from traditional supply chains in East Asia to India and the rest of the world.
  • There is a huge Commodity Upcycle, especially in metals. However, the company is poised to directly pass on the hikes to its customers.
  • The Company is expanding its capacities in the renewables sector, in order to reduce its reliance on Oil and Gas and focus on sustainable growth ahead.

 

Asset Multiplier Comments:

  • Bharat Forge like most Industrial manufacturing has already seen the worst of its days due to the pandemic, and recovery seems to be well on track.
  • Increased Government Expenditure, Focus on Atmanirbhar Bharat will help the company’s topline across all verticals in years ahead.

 

Consensus Estimates (Source: market screener website): 

  • The closing price of Bharat Forge was ₹757/- as of 09-June-2021.  It traded at 42x/ 30x the consensus EPS estimate of ₹ 18/ 25/-  for FY22E/23E respectively.
  • The consensus price target is ₹ 800/- which trades at 32x the EPS estimate for FY23E of ₹ 25/-.

Disclaimer: “The views expressed are for information purposes only. The information provided herein should not be considered as investment advice or research recommendation. The users should rely on their own research and analysis and should consult their own investment advisors to determine the merit, risks, and suitability of the information provided.”

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01 Jun

Domestic demand to recover post lockdown- KEI Industries

Update on Indian Equity Market:

On Tuesday, Nifty closing down 8 points at 15,575.  Adani Ports (3.7%), ONGC (3.5%), and Bajaj Finance (2.8%) were the top gainers on the index while JSW Steel (-2.3%), TATA STEEL(-2.2%), ICICI BANK (-1.9%) were the top losers for the day. Among the sectoral indices,  Private Bank (-0.9%) and Metal (-0.8%), and Realty (-0.52%) lead the losers, while Media (0.32%) and IT (0.11%) lead the gainers.

Excerpts of an interview with Anil Gupta, CMD of KEI Industries aired on CNBC TV 18 on 31st May 2021:

  • Pent-up demand is strong and the management is confident that the sales will pick up post lockdown restrictions end.
  • The Company posted a 17% YoY growth in EBITDA margin and  47% YoY growth in the bottom line. The results are indicative of the long-term growth prospects of the company.
  • The company is currently working at full capacity and is expected to stock up inventory in order to be ready when the demand picks up.  
  • Retail sales are currently under pressure due to lockdown but the company is showing good order book growth.
  • KEI Industries currently has an order book of Rs 26000 mn with steady growth however labor shortage and site closures have impacted the execution rate.

Asset Multiplier Comments:

  • Like many consumer durable companies, KEI industries has suffered the adverse effects of lockdown but there are better days ahead.
  • The company has is well poised to reap the benefits of cost rationalisation and volume expansion growing ahead.

Consensus Estimates (Source: market screener website): 

  • The closing price of KEI Industries was ₹622/- as of 31-May-2021.  It traded at 17x/ 14x the consensus EPS estimate of ₹ 36/ ₹ 43  for FY22E/23E respectively.
  • The consensus price target is ₹ 664/- which trades at 15x the EPS estimate for FY23E of ₹ 43/-

Disclaimer: “The views expressed are for information purposes only. The information provided herein should not be considered as investment advice or research recommendation. The users should rely on their own research and analysis and should consult their own investment advisors to determine the merit, risks, and suitability of the information provided.”

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29 May

This Week in a Nutshell (May 24 to May 28th)

Technical Talks

NIFTY opened the week on 24th May at 15,211 and closed on 28th May at 15,453 just shy of the record high of 15,469. It made a weekly gain of 1.6%. The index is trading above all DMAs of 14,913 which might act as a support. RSI (14) 66 indicates the index may face resistance going ahead from these levels.

Weekly highlights

  • Indian equity bourses ended with strong gains as encouraging quarterly earnings and positive global cues boosted investors’ sentiment. The moderation in daily new COVID-19 cases in India also improved risk sentiments. The Nifty index settled at a record-closing high. Broader markets underperformed key benchmarks during the week.
  • Domestic rating agency ICRA on Monday, 24 May 2021, forecasted a 2% GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2020-21, and a 7.3% contraction for the full fiscal year. According to the agency, the 2% projected GDP growth will help the economy avoid a double-dip recession as indicated by the National Statistical Office (NSO) for the fourth quarter. 
  • The Commerce and Industry Ministry said that Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in India grew 19% to $59.64 billion during 2020-21 on account of measures taken by the government on the fronts of policy reforms, investment facilitation and ease of doing business. The total FDI, including equity, reinvested earnings and capital, rose 10% to the “highest ever” of $81.72 billion during 2020-21 as against $74.39 billion in 2019-20.
  • The balance sheet size of RBI increased by ~7% for the year ended 31 March 2021, mainly reflecting its liquidity and foreign exchange operations. From this year onwards, RBI has changed the accounting year to April – March from July-June earlier. RBI transferred Rs 99,122 crore as surplus to the central government for the nine months ended March 31.
  • A gauge for U.S. manufacturing activity that surged to a record high this month along with the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped more than expected last week as layoffs subsided. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 38,000 to a seasonally adjusted 406,000 for the week lowest since March 2020.
  • Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers of Indian equities of Rs. 20,400 mn, against net selling of Rs 17,540 mn in the previous week. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were net sellers of Rs 3,240 mn, as compared to last week’s selling of Rs. 13,180 mn.

  Things to watch out

  • India Reported its 45 day low of daily covid cases at 1.73 Lakh, Reduction in cases and hope of lockdown ease pushed the market to record highs this week. It will be interesting to see if this momentum drives the indices upward or if any correction is imminent.
  • The monthly volume data for Auto companies will be released next week. This will be critical to gauge the impact of lockdowns imposed in certain states in India.    
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20 May

Good Momentum seen in Asset and Wealth Management segments- IIFL Wealth

Update on Indian Equity Market:

On Thursday, markets were in the red, with Nifty declining 124 points to close at 14,906. CIPLA (2.4%), M&M (2.3%), and BPCL (2.1%) were the top gainers on the index while TATA STEEL (-5.1%), HINDALCO (-4.2%), and COALINDIA (-3.4%) were the top losers for the day. Among the sectoral indices, REALTY (1.0%), and PSU BANK (+0.4%) were the only gainers, while METAL (-3.2%), BANK (-1.0%), and PRIVATE BANK (-1.0%) lead the losers.

Excerpts of an interview with Mr. Karan Bhagat, CEO of IIFL Wealth aired on CNBC TV-18 on 19th  May 2021 :

  • The revenue recognition on a trailing basis instead of upfront basis has seen a strong cyclical recovery over the past 8 quarters. The Wealth Management business is poised to grow from here on.  
  • The Asset Management business has seen a stellar recovery over the past year with an increase in both listed and unlisted equity segments. 
  • NBFC business is seeing a difficult recovery due to the pandemic. The Loan against Shares segment is fairly collateralized and thus the company hasn’t seen any rise in impairment costs. The stable Net Interest margins and lower operating costs are good tailwinds going ahead.  
  • AUM growth is expected in the low teens with organic growth and around 20% on a Mark to Market basis.
  • The company has improved its revenue mix to Annual recurring revenue contributing to around 70-80% as opposed to the brokerage-centric business model over the last 2 years. The management expects this to stabilize at these levels going forward.

Asset Multiplier Comments:

  • India is in the midst of a transformation in its savings and investing habits, going forward Asset and Wealth Management are going to see manifold growth as market penetration increases.
  • The company is well poised to reap the rewards of compartmentalization and operating efficiencies going ahead in both the Asset and the Wealth Management business.

Consensus Estimates (Source: market screener website): 

  • The closing price of IIFL Wealth was ₹1,100/- as of 20-May-2021.  It traded at 23x/ 19x the consensus EPS estimate of ₹ 48/ ₹ 59 for FY22E/23E respectively.
  • The consensus price target is ₹ 1360/- which trades at 23x the EPS estimate for FY23E of ₹ 59/-. 

Disclaimer: “The views expressed are for information purposes only. The information provided herein should not be considered as investment advice or research recommendation. The users should rely on their own research and analysis and should consult their own investment advisors to determine the merit, risks, and suitability of the information provided.”

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10 May

Expect a demand recovery once restrictions are lifted – Blue Star

 

Update on Indian Equity Market:

On Monday, markets were on the rise, with Nifty increasing 128 points to close at 14,950. COAL INDIA (8.2%), UPL (8.0%), and HINDALCO (6.2%) were the top gainers on the index while SHREECEM (-1.9%), BRITANNIA (-1.28%), and ULTRACEMCO (-1.28%) were the top losers for the day. Among the sectoral indices, Metal (4.7%), PHARMA (2.8%), and MEDIA (+2.5%) led the gainers. There were no sectoral losers for the day.

 

Excerpts of an interview with Mr. B Thyagarajan MD of Blue Star with CNBC- TV 18 dated 7th May 2021:

 

  • Till 15-April-21, secondary sales were growing at a healthy pace. The increased restrictions have resulted in the slow down of Air- Conditioning and Commercial Refrigeration verticals.
  • The company feared a washout as evidenced in Q1FY21 but it actually posted a 20% lower compared to its earnings in Q1FY20. The Company hopes sales could normalize by the end of May and sees recovery in the months of June-July owing to a hot extended summer.
  • Blue Star had already hiked prices as of 1st April. As the Company has significant inventories owing to slow down, it doesn’t expect any more margin pressure and expects it to stabilize around 8%.
  • The company witnessed a stellar growth in the pharma-health care sectors across air-conditioning and commercial refrigeration verticals due to covid-19 developments and vaccine transports.
  • The manufacturing sector in both Electro-Mechanical and Air-Conditioning segments showed good growth in Q4FY21. The 1st financial quarter is seasonally focused on residential air-conditioning sees its growth prospects dampened due to lockdowns. 
  • Capacity expansion will be operational in the Wada plant for Deep Freezers by Q2FY22 and another plant is expected to be operational in H1FY23 for Air conditioning in Sri City.
  • It expects pent-up demand to drive residential air conditioning growth by around 10% for FY22 owing to prolonged work from home exposure and reduced spending on other luxuries.

 

Asset Multiplier Comments:

  • The seasonal nature of the company’s demand may impact the performance in the short term. The improved macro factors, longer summers due to climate change present good growth prospects over the long term.
  • The margins have been beaten down due to various factors, we expect pressure to ease off in the medium term.

 

Consensus Estimates (Source: market screener website): 

  • The closing price of Blue Star was ₹ 833/- as of 10-May-2021.  It traded at 44x/ 32x the consensus EPS estimate of ₹ 19/ ₹ 26 for FY22E/23E respectively.
  • The consensus price target is ₹ 790/- which trades at 30x the EPS estimate for FY23E of ₹ 26/-

Disclaimer: “The views expressed are for information purposes only. The information provided herein should not be considered as investment advice or research recommendation. The users should rely on their own research and analysis and should consult their own investment advisors to determine the merit, risks, and suitability of the information provided.”

 

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28 Apr

Preference for Margins over Volume Growth: HDFC Life

Update on Indian Equity Market:

Markets were on the rise today, with Nifty increasing 212 points to 14,865. Bajaj Finance (8.0%), Indusind Bank (4.9%), and Eicher Motors (4.8%) were the top gainers on the index while Britannia (-2.0%), Hindalco (-1.0%), and Nestle (-1.0%) were the top losers for the day. Among the sectoral indices, Bank (3.0%), Private Bank (3.0%), and Financial Services (2.9%), led the gainers while Realty (-0.6%), Pharma (-0.3%), and Metal (-0.3%) ended in the red.

 

Excerpts of an interview with Ms. Vibha Padalkar, CEO of HDFC Life with Bloomberg Quint dated 28th April 2021:

 

  • HDFC Life expects to record profit margins upwards of 70% irrespective of the covid-19 impact. 
  • Company prefers to protect high profit margins and to grow moderately than chase topline growth, especially in the protection segment due to uncertainty and higher risk due to covid-19.
  • Company aims to expand into the annuity segment which is a highly lucrative and retiral segment which is showing good potential going forward.
  • The risk associated with price hike as a result of covid-19 cannot be ruled out entirely. The company ensures that the price hike will be passed over to customers in a phased manner.
  • In order to reduce risk, the company wants to diversify its product portfolio to improve contributions from annuity and protection segments

 

Asset Multiplier Comments:

  •  The Company has identified key areas, in order to sustain growth by focusing on margins cover and sustainable growth, which provides a long term positive outlook for the company.
  • These efforts will help the company grow beyond FY22 and with the expansion of the Insurance industry is poised for stellar growth.

 

Consensus Estimates (Source: market screener website):

  • The closing price of HDFC Life was ₹ 673/- as of 28-April-2021.  It traded at75x/ 67x the consensus EPS estimate of ₹ 9/ ₹ 10 for FY22E/23E respectively.
  • The consensus price target is ₹ 758/- which trades at 76x the EPS estimate for FY23E of ₹ 10/-
  • In the case of life insurance companies, the embedded value per share is the correct multiple for valuing the company. The consensus estimate of this metric is not available on any of the websites.

Disclaimer: “The views expressed are for information purposes only. The information provided herein should not be considered as investment advice or research recommendation. The users should rely on their own research and analysis and should consult their own investment advisors to determine the merit, risks, and suitability of the information provided.”

 

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19 Apr

Semiconductor shortage to resolve in 3-4 months: Eicher Motors

Update on Indian Equity Market:

An alarming increase in the number of Covid-19 cases resulted in a bloodbath in India’s Equity Markets, with Nifty slipping 258 points to 14,359. Adani Ports (-4.8%), Power Grid (-4.1%), ONGC (-4.0%) were the top losers on the index while Dr Reddy’s (+1.4%), Britannia (+0.9%), and Cipla (+0.9%) were the top gainers for the day. Among the sectoral indices, PSU Bank (-4.3%), Realty (-4.1%), and AUTO (-2.8%) led the losers while Pharma (+0.2%) was the only index to end in the green.

 

Excerpts of Interview with Mr. Vinod Dasari, Whole-time Director, Eicher Motors and CEO, Royal Enfield with CNBC-TV18 dated 16th  April 2021:

 

  • Demand has picked up strongly owing to backlogs from last year. The industry is facing some problems due to fresh restrictions owing to the rising COVID-19 cases. 
  • Learning from the past lockdowns, the industry is better equipped to deal with the short-term uncertainties and continue to keep up with the demand in the short term.
  • Royal Enfield expects supply-chain constraints in the first couple of months of FY22 and expects the recovery to be along the lines of FY21.
  • Metals inflation is putting pressure on margins, and the import restrictions on steel have resulted in an increase of 20% in prices which is unfathomable.
  • Optimistic about the semi-conductor and Anti-lock braking system (ABS) shortages, in the short run, there’s a notable pressure however recovery is expected within the next 2-3 months as all the stakeholders are coordinating to mitigate the issue.

 

Asset Multiplier Comments:

  • Demand is poised to recover in the FY22, however, Q1FY22 may see muted growth due to lockdowns and supply-side issues.
  •  As witnessed in Q4FY21, the demand is robust irrespective of the ongoing pandemic, the outlook for the auto industry is favourable for FY22 subject to supply-chain improvements.

 

Consensus Estimates (Source: market screener website):

 

  • The closing price of EICHER MOTORS was ₹ 2,377/- as of 19-April-2021.  It traded at 27x/ 21x the consensus EPS estimate of ₹ 87/ ₹ 115 for FY22E/23E respectively.
  • The consensus price target is ₹ 3,105/- which trades at 27x the EPS estimate for FY23E of ₹ 115/-

 

Disclaimer: “The views expressed are for information purposes only. The information provided herein should not be considered as investment advice or research recommendation. The users should rely on their own research and analysis and should consult their own investment advisors to determine the merit, risks, and suitability of the information provided.”

 

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18 Apr

The week in a nutshell (April 12th to 16th)

 

Technical talks

  • NIFTY opened the week on 12th April at 14,645 and closed on 16th April at 14,617. After beginning the week with major losses, the index rebounded to close flat for the week. The index is trading below its 20DMA of 14,661, which may act as resistance. The next level being 50DMA at 14,863. The Index breached its 100DMA at 14,316 during the week where it may find support.

Weekly highlights

  • The week began with major indices in red due to the rising Covid-19 cases and lockdown-like conditions imposed across major areas in the country.  Indices recovered during the week to end flat. Gains were seen in pharma, IT, metals, and auto stocks, while bank and realty indices ended in the red.
  • Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in India, Foreign Institutional Investors (FII) turned net sellers this week,  at  Rs 10,590 mn. Domestic Institutional Investors (DII) were net buyers and pumped in Rs 6,080 mn.
  • Q4FY21 result earnings season started this week with the big 3 tech companies -TCS, Infosys, and  Wipro. All reported good revenue growth on the expected lines. Their comments for upcoming quarters suggest promising growth. On the back of a strong earnings show, Infosys has announced a buyback of Rs.92 bn, at an upper price limit of Rs. 1750/share.
  • The US Equity markets hit a record high during the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit the historic milestone of 34,000 for the first time owing to economic recovery and stimulus package announced by President Joe Biden and reducing unemployment.
  • American banking major Citibank on Thursday announced that it will exit from the consumer banking business in India and 13 countries. This is a part of a global strategy of CEO Jane Fraser attributing the decision to an absence of scale to compete in these geographies. The bank has 35 branches in India and employs approximately 4,000 people in the consumer banking business. 
  • India’s retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose to 5.52 percent in March. Separately, the country’s factory output, measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), witnessed a contraction of 3.6 percent in February. The retail inflation during February was at 5.03 per cent.

Things to watch out 

  • Q4FY21 result season to continue with HDFC Bank and Nestle reporting their earnings. India’s COVID patient numbers will drive the sentiment of the market in the near term. Some economists are already reducing India’s GDP growth forecast for FY22 due to the second wave. We expect investors to focus back on cash flow creators – pharma, consumer, and software services. This is a holiday-shortened week due to a break on Wednesday. 
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