13/01/2025
India’s export landscape from April 2023 to January 2024 reveals a concerning trend, with goods exports amounting to $353.92 billion, marking a nearly 5% dip compared to the corresponding period in the previous fiscal year. The ongoing Red Sea crisis emerges as a critical factor, given its significance for 30% of global container traffic and 12% of global trade.
A survey by the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) draws attention to the widespread impact of this crisis on various merchandise exports. Sectors such as sesame oil, rice, coffee, coconuts, frozen buffalo meat, spices, pharmaceuticals, textiles, garments, leather footwear, accessories, engineering goods, and plastic packaging items have been notably affected.
In the wake of the Red Sea crisis, companies are strategizing to navigate the challenges. AIA Engineering’s management foresees an uptick in freight costs in the upcoming quarters, yet they expect only marginal repercussions on their operations, with the ability to pass through most of these costs to customers.
Carysil’s management emphasizes the potential risks posed by the Red Sea scenario. The crisis has led to a considerable surge in ocean freights, extending sailing times by approximately two weeks. This has prompted the company to closely monitor the situation, considering the resultant increase in costs and potential operational disruptions.
Similarly, Divis Laboratories acknowledges the ongoing crisis’s impact on global supply chains. The repercussions include heightened freight costs, mandatory war risk insurance, and delays due to rerouting. Increased vessel diversion has led to longer voyages, coupled with rising oil prices, pushing up international freight rates and insurance premiums. The company maintains vigilance regarding potential challenges stemming from these ongoing events and their broader implications for global trade.
Meanwhile, the United States faces challenges in the form of increasing delinquencies in credit repayments, particularly among younger and lower-income groups. This raises concerns about the uneven recovery paths and persisting vulnerabilities within specific demographics.
On the monetary front, Federal Reserve Governor Philip Jefferson adopts a cautious stance, hinting at the possibility of cutting the policy rate later in the year. He underscores three key risks to the economic outlook: resilient consumer spending, potential employment weakening, and ongoing geopolitical risks.
In Europe, Germany’s manufacturing output, which has been declining since 2017, experiences an accelerated decline, particularly triggered by the energy crisis in the summer of 2022. Japan, unexpectedly slipping into recession, poses challenges for the Bank of Japan, complicating the outlook for its negative interest rate policy. Australia witnesses a surge in unemployment to a two-year high, signaling a cooling labor market.
The Chinese stock market faces a downturn, tumbling to five-year lows due to concerns about growth and deflation, reminiscent of the 2015 turmoil that prompted significant policy interventions.
Looking at the global corporate scenario, JP Morgan highlights that corporate balance sheets are weaker than they were ahead of the 2008 recession, indicating potential vulnerabilities.
Despite an upswing in the Indian stock market, foreign institutional investors continue to sell. For February alone, FII sales have reached nearly Rs 14,000 crore, contributing to a total of Rs 50,000 crore in 2024 in the cash market.
As India enters 2024, it stands on the cusp of continued economic momentum, projecting to breach the $4 trillion GDP mark and attain a per capita GDP of $2,800. However, this optimistic outlook encounters potential headwinds in the form of supply shocks, volatile oil prices, and upcoming general elections. Managing stable growth amid these challenges hinges on effective inflation and current account deficit management.
Presently, the Nifty 50 and Nifty 500 indices trade at trailing twelve months (TTM) P/E ratios of 22.97X and 24.52X, respectively. While these figures suggest trading below their five-year average P/E ratios, caution is warranted when considering their historical averages—21.54X for Nifty 50 and 20.49X for Nifty 500. The Indian stock market reaches a significant milestone with its market capitalization to GDP (MCap/GDP) ratio hitting an all-time high, signaling bullish sentiment and robust economic growth. However, it also raises cautionary flags, particularly in the valuation of small-cap and mid-cap companies compared to large-cap firms. The recommendation is to approach these segments with caution, considering factors such as earnings growth, fundamentals, and financial stability.
In conclusion, while catching a fast-running train in the form of a bullish market might be enticing, it is crucial to assess the speed, track ahead, and potential for unexpected stops. The current scenario calls for a cautious and focused investment approach, prioritizing fundamentals over pure momentum. Staggered buying, based on well-researched themes and ideas, can provide a safer strategy in the face of uncertainties, ensuring the building of a resilient portfolio for the long term.