Monday, 3 April 2017

Monitoring the Bull Market in Indian Stocks: Update as of March 2017

Indian Stock Market Watch






Please see my blog of July 9, 2014 for the original note on using TMV/GNP ratio to gauge whether the market is cheap or expensive, and the blog for the month of February, 2017.

India Market Map: March 2017

A bird’s eye view of the performance of India’s financial markets on a monthly basis.



2016-17 - the full year

Rupee strengthens against all major currencies, including a 17.5% gain against the british pound.

Stock market puts in a stellar performance, outperforming a strong bond market and a stagnant gold market.

The yield curve steepens, with short rates falling even more than long rates.

Fixed deposit rates fall.

Demonetisation aftermath - October 2016 to March 2017

Stock index falls then rises to a new high

Bond yields fall at the short end - up to one year - but recover at the long end

Gold prices lower

Rupee rises against the major currencies

Fixed Deposit rates fall

SBI's home loan rate falls

Foreign Exchange



 Stock Market


 Government Bond Market





  Gold


 Money Market


   Policy Rates


 Bank Deposit and S.B. Rates






 Public Provident Fund


 Post Office Deposits


 Lending Rate


   Real Estate Market



Friday, 3 March 2017

Monitoring the Bull Market in Indian Stocks: Update as of February 2017

Indian Stock Market Watch

On a month-end basis, market capitalisation of stocks on BSE reached an all-time high of Rs 117,593 bill. As a percentage of GNP, however, the estimated ratio is well below the the 85.2% mark reached in February 2015 and 100.7% mark reached in September 2010.






Please see my blog of July 9, 2014 for the original note on using TMV/GNP ratio to gauge whether the market is cheap or expensive.

Wednesday, 1 March 2017

India Market Map: February 2017


A bird’s eye view of the performance of India’s financial markets on a monthly basis.

Equities have been the best asset class over the last one year. And even the current financial year (the pound/rupee rate has done a little better, but this is due to the sharp fall od the pound following the one-off Brexit).

Over the last one month, bond yields have fallen in the 3-6 month area, but have risen for longer maturities. Longer maturity yields have clearly responded to the change in the monetary policy stance of RBI in the second week of February from accommodative to neutral.

In this scenario, my remark that "accommodative and neutral policy coexist" seems to be true.

However, over three months, a few weeks after demonetisation, yields have risen across the board. What explains this? Profit taking by market participants or a perception that the demonetisation effects are going to short and temporary? I am not sure.

Note, it makes some sense for a saver to put his 5-year money in the government bond rather than put it in a ICICI or SBI deposit.

Of course, a 5-year Post Office deposit is better. Note this may change, as government has made a commitment to move small savings rates in line with market rates. The RBI's monetary policy statement of three weeks ago urges government to move in step as agreed.



Foreign Exchange


Stock Market


 Government Bond Market


  

Gold


  Money Market


Policy Rates


 Bank Deposit Rates








Public Provident Fund


 Post Office Deposits





Lending Rate



Real Estate Market