Post Market views - Oct 5, 2021 - Mr. Binod Modi, Head Strategy at Reliance Securities

Domestic equities continued to show resilience and extended gains today amid mixed global cues as expectations of strong September quarter earnings lifted investors' sentiments. IT and Energy stocks witnessed strong recovery, while financials (excluding PSU banks) also witnessed modest rebound. Heavyweight Reliance Industries continued to move higher and supported market rally. However, pharma and FMCG stocks were laggards. Further, buying momentum remained visible in midcap and smallcap stocks, while value stocks continued to outperform growth stocks. ONGC, IndusInd Bank, Coal India and IOC were among top Nifty gainers, while Cipla, Hindalco, Shree Cement and Sun Pharma were laggards.

Notably, a sharp rise in oil prices is a fresh overhang of Indian equities, which can essentially result in further hardening of inflation and adversely impact government's fiscal math. However, high frequency key economic indicators in September in the form of GST collection, manufacturing PMI, import-export data and e-way bills continued to reflect improvement in economic activities, which bode well for corporate earnings. Further, growth in many cases started surpassing pre-pandemic levels, which also offers comfort. Notably, benchmark indices outperformed global markets in recent period as sustained recovery in key economic indicators and faster vaccination ramp-up with least possibility of third wave of COVID-19 hitting in a bigger way bolstered investors' confidence. Notably, tax collection data for 1HFY21 was also quite impressive, which virtually crossed pre-pandemic FY20 numbers with a wide margin. However, investors remain on tenterhook with regards to progress on Evergrande and increase of debt ceiling in the USA. In our view, India is at the beginning of capex revival phase and therefore corporate earnings recovery looks sustainable and premium valuations might sustain. Additionally, government's focus to improve credit growth through credit outreach programme and continued traction in PLI schemes augur well for domestic economy. While concerns over global growth due to recent rise in delta variant Coronavirus cases in different parts of the world continue to persist, we believe that underlying strength of domestic market remains intact. In our view, festive demand, recovery in rural demand, COVID-19 positivity rates, vaccination ramp-up, September quarter earnings and RBI policy meeting outcome will be in focus in the near term. Further higher government's capex and revival in industrials' capex should continue to aid economic recovery in the medium to long term. However, liquidity driven market may take a backseat in 2022 and investors must start focusing on quality aspect of companies, in our view.

Source : Equity Bulls

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