Wednesday, 19 October 2016

Nifty Consolidates, But Closed Below 8700 Amid Neutral Global Cues (Divergent China Data) & Progress Of GST Ahead Of Fed's Beige Book & ECB Meet

Market Wrap: 19/10/2016 (17:30)




Nifty Fut (Oct) today closed around 8662, almost flat (-0.21%) after a lackluster day of trading and made a session high & low of 8696-8640 in the absence of any meaningful driver (both globally & domestically). 


After yesterday's one day big rally, market participants may have choose for some long unwinding or fresh shorting at higher level. 


Looking at the analytical chart, for tomorrow (20/10/2016), sustaining below 8660-8620* area, NF may fall towards 8585/8560-8535/8500*-8465/8405 zone in the immediate to short term.


For any meaningful strength, NF has to sustain over 8700-8720* area for further rally towards 8755*/8795-8840/8900-8925/8995 zone in the immediate to short term.


Today dollar was somehow weak after last few days rally amid combination of slightly below core CPI in US & a strong GBP. This, coupled with divergence in China data (expected GDP at 6.7%, but below expected IIP at 6.1%) made the global market cautious ahead of ECB meet & Draghi stance tomorrow.


Although recent US economic data may be weak as par market expectations and may also highlight the relative USD strength, overall rate hike expectation (FFR) has not altered much and all the focus is now on the US Presidential election. Although, probability of Clinton is getting higher day by day and even, one of the largest online betting site (Paddy power) has already making early pay outs in favour of Clinton win (nearly 85% probability), some last minute drama may be still due as Wiki leaks is going to deliver something "awful" for the Clinton camp shortly, despite best effort by the "authorities" to stop it.


In any way, whoever wins, both may be positive for the USD and negative for the "risk trade". A Clinton win will make sure that Fed is going to hike in Dec'16 and may further give some definitive guidance about 1/2 hike in 2017. A Clinton win may also be negative for Indian Pharma companies as cost of medicare/medicines is now a hot political issue in US, mainly led by Clinton camp. Moreover, there may be some increased geo-political tension, specially with Russia over Syria issues as Clinton is being seen as "war mongering" unlike Trump.


On the other side, a Trump win (though very unlikely) may ensure very hawkish monetary policy by Fed & some fiscal/structural measures and various trade barriers & oil marketing policy in the interest of US's own economy, which may make the USD more strong. A Trump win, may also ensure a short term "dooms day" like scenario for the global financial market itself.


Thus, this time, there may be double whammy for the market in Nov-Dec for various "Geo-Political" events (such as US election/FED/Brexit etc).


Another reason of dollar weakness may be strong GBP, because of news that High Court may direct to take necessary UK Parliament approval before proceeding officially for the Brexit (??).


Although, today's Chinese GDP has allayed some fear about immediate "hard landing”, the tepid IIP and the recent trade & CPI data also suggests that, while Chinese economy continues to expand moderately, the pace is clearly slowing, especially in the manufacturing sector, which was the core engine of growth for many years, being the global "manufacturing power house". The gradual transition from export led manufacturing economy to a more balanced economy based on services and consumption (domestic consumer demand) may keep the world's 2-nd largest economy vulnerable in the near future amid problem of huge debt and real estate bubbles & massive industrial over capacity. The problem of China is getting deeper & deeper with the tepid trend of consumer spending in the EU & US. This may be the main reason, why China is persuading very actively to develop an economic corridor with Pak (CPEC) to promote its trade & export to the other part of the globe and this may be also one of the main reason for the current spate of Indo-Pak geo-political tension as China is virtually controlling the Pak economy/politics for its own interest. 


In any way, China's debt/GDP is now at almost 275% and any serious jitters (like significant Yuan devaluation & burst of banking NPA) may be en "event risk" for the global as well as the Indian market.


Back to home, all eyes are on the progress of GST & tomorrow, some types of official GST rates may be indicated Although as par various reports, there may be 4/5 rates ranging from 6/12/18/26 & 40% with some additional cess, it may take some more time for an overall consensus and another meeting may be called in just before the Winter Parliament session (nest month) to finalize it.


However, some tax experts do also think that, with so much multiple rates & cess, the basic concept of GST (“one nation one tax” or simplification of indirect tax) may be compromised. A faulty model of GST may make matters more complex and effective compliance will be much lower.


Yesterday's RBI/MPC minutes revealed that although RBI is worried about inflation uptick in the coming months, it’s equally concerned for growth and credit inflow/rate cut transmission. It may be termed as slightly hawkish. 


After the last cut of 0.25%, only around 0.05-0.10% may have been transmitted by the banks so far and overall, around 0.80-1% may be transmitted or will transmit shortly out of the total 1.75% cut by the RBI. As par SBI Chair-woman, deposit rate in India need to go much lower for effective transmission of the overall RBI repo rate cut to all types of borrowers in the economy. So, unless & until, proper rate cut transmission is being made by the banks, it will help little for the Indian borrowing needs as of now, especially for the MSME sector, which is largely dependent on banks for its funding needs.


As par S&P, although there is good scope for Indian economy to grow by around 8% on 2017 on the back of better consumption, going forward, there may be limited scope for any immediate rate cut by RBI in Dec’16 and RBI may cut again only in Feb’17.


But, as par some other reports, except automobile sectors, all the other high frequency indicators are pointing towards slow consumption in India and that may be one of the main reasons behind lower capacity utilization in the economy and resultant pain of "twin balance sheets".


Thus Q2FY17 earnings may be the key for any indication of overall revival in the Indian economy. As the country's GDP is growing 7-8% pace, average Nifty EPS growth should also be matched by at least 15% in the days ahead.



 SGX-NF

No comments:

Post a Comment