Wednesday, 4 October 2017

Nifty May Open Almost Flat Amid Positive Global Cues On RBI Day On Hopes Of A Rate Cut (?) After Symbolic Excise Duty Cut By The Govt “Unexpectedly” On Petrol/Diesel By 2/- To Help The Central Bank In Containing Inflation



Market Mantra: 04/10/2017 (09:00)

SGX-NF: 9875 (+7)

For the Day: 

Key support for NF: 9860-9810

Key resistance for NF: 9925-9975

Key support for BNF: 23900-23700

Key resistance for BNF: 24300-24600

Hints for positional trading:

Technicals indicate that, NF has to sustain over 9925 area for further rally towards 9945/9975-10015 & 10050-10115 area in the short term (under bullish case scenario).

On the flip side, sustaining below 9905 area, NF may fall towards 9860-9810 & 9760-9695 area in the short term (under bear case scenario).

Similarly, BNF has to sustain over 24300 area for further rally towards 24600-24750 & 24850-25050 area in the near term (under bullish case scenario).

On the flip side, sustaining below 24250-24100 area, BNF may fall towards 23900-23800 & 23700-23600 area in the near term (under bear case scenario).

As par early SGX indication, Nifty Fut (Oct) may open around 9875, almost flat tracking positive global cues and renewed hopes of a RBI rate cut after sudden roll back (cut) of ED by the Govt on petrol/diesel by 2/- just ahead of RBI policy in an effort to signal the central bank that Govt is “proactive” in containing inflation due to recent rise in Crude Oil.

Globally, USD was under some stress on concerns of legislative passage of Trump’s tax reform bill and its ultimate benefit to the US corporates, US middle class & the US economy itself as there is no credible plan to contain the resultant fiscal/revenue deficit because of significant tax cuts coupled with abolition of various tax deductions.

Market may be also worried about Fed chair uncertainty after Yellen’s term expires in Feb’18. As par reports, although Yellen may be a potential “candidate” for her extension, Trump may not oblige and will appoint a fresh Fed chair. Previously, Warsh, a known hawk was speculated to be the next Fed chair and thus USD got some boost yesterday, but now it appears that Trump may also consider other 3 eligible candidates including Cohn and all these uncertainties may have been affecting the USD/risk trade now.

Overnight US market closed in another fresh record high, helped by an upbeat auto sales data for Sep; although the figure may be distorted by replacement led demands from Harvey & Irma hurricane and some extra discounts. Apart from auto, US market was supported by airlines (less than expected loss due to Harvey/Irma and optimistic outlook) techs, industrials, defence and gun makers.
DJ-30 closed around 0.37% higher at 22642; S&P-500 added almost 0.20% and closed around 2535 and NQ-100 rose by 0.2%. Overall, strong Mfg PMI data on Monday and tax cut/reform optimism coupled with hopes for blockbuster earnings in Q3/H2 may be driving the US market right now, although the valuations may be quite stretched. 

Thus Q3 earnings growth needs to catch up the rally in the US market, which is so far up by more than 13% YTD in S&P-500. Another headwinds for the US stock may be higher interest rates & USD amid Fed fear of dual QT (both BS tapering & Fed rate hike in Dec), which may result in US bond yields surge.

US stock future (SPX-500) is now trading around 2531, almost flat (-0.06%); market may now focus on Yellen & Draghi speech apart from deluge of US economic data including NFP on Friday. Also NK ICBM activities may be on the watch in the weekend or next few days till 18th Oct, China’s Party congress. Technically, SPX-500 now need to sustain above 2535 zone for further rally; otherwise expect some corrections.

In the morning today, World Bank raised China GDP for 2017 & 2018 to 6.7% (vs 6.5%) & 6.4% (vs 6.3%), which may have also boosted the Asian/Global market sentiment to some extent.

Back to home, Indian market (Nifty Fut) is now trading around 9920; up by almost 0.52% on hopes of a RBI repo rate cut by at least 0.25% to 5.75% after Govt unexpectedly cut ED on gasoline by 2/- yesterday after market hours to contain WPI/inflation, which may be a signal for RBI to consider an urgent rate cut today to stimulate the slowing economy.

Overall, most of the economists recently polled are not expecting any change in policy from RBI this time; but some hopes are there for CRR cut or even a 0.25% “Diwali Gift” (unexpected cut) to the nations to rejuvenate Indian growth story. 

Looking at today’s price action so far, it seems that market may be already discounting a “dovish hold” or even a 0.25% cut by RBI; in that sense, if RBI turns out to be on “hawkish hold” side today; market may fall again to some extent. 

RBI may term the sudden fall in Q1 GDP as “one off” (transitory) due to adverse effect of GST & DeMo and may wait for another 1-2 QTR for a definitive view & rate action. RBI may also lower the GVA/GDP projection for H2FY18, while keeping the CPI target intact.

But sudden ED cut by the Govt may be also treated as political populism and negative for fiscal deficit concern as around 0.16% of GDP revenue may be affected for such ED cut, while GST revenue may be still subdued. Market is already cautious for muted Q1 earnings, stretched valuations and concern for fiscal slippages amid talks of various fiscal stimulus package by the Govt to revive the economy out of its deepest slump since 2014.

Also, a mere 2/- or even 5/- tax cut (central ED, state VAT & OMC margin) may not be enough for containing spiraling inflation as 0.25% of CPI may be affected for a 10% movement on retail prices of gasoline; states may be reluctant to offer such cut in VAT irrespective of their political colours as its an easy way of revenue. 

Again, if RBI cut 0.25% today, it may not move the needle too much to stimulate the Indian economy as in this era of globalization; Indian repo rate should be around 4.5% at least in comparison to China’s 4.35%. 

Although, theoretically RBI can cut by another 1% to bring the repo rate at 5% and RRI/neutral rate at 1.5% assuming average CPI at around 3.5%; but that may be very risky for RBI credibility and the legacy stance of a “hawkish central bank” among the FPIS, who are very fond of India’s traditional high bond yields as a rare combination with a stable economy & democracy. Any drastic change to a dovish central bank can seriously harm the Indian bond market.



SGX-NF


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