In the wake of US Fed Rate turmoil, geopolitical turbulences’, the Global banking crisis and rising inflation Indian share markets ends in red. In the coming months banking sector would experience pressure from the global banking crisis and the RBI regulatory pressure as precautionary measures to avert the global banking crisis effect on the Indian banking system. March being a month for tax planning and investment by retail investors reduce the money inflows into the market directly. The expectation of an abnormal monsoon with El Nino effect predictions for
the 2023 monsoon raised the concern over rural demand and upcoming market earnings. As the sectors which are expected to gain from current levels are tech stocks along with capex, engineering infrastructure, healthcare, and consumption. The new Finance Bill implications from 1st April 2023 also bring new dimensions to the financial scenario in India. Changes in various taxation norms initially would affect the investment styles of the investor and also changes the dynamics of money flow.
The debt Market over the month of March 2023 stayed volatile due to the
fed rate rise and inflation numbers. With the slight decrease in the US
inflation and banking sector turmoil, the yields played around. Moreover,
the banking crisis in Europe and China’s economic revival also added
uncertainty. The upcoming MPC meeting in the first week of April may
indicate RBI may hike rates by 25bps due to poor economic numbers. The
expected 10-year benchmark yield would stay in the range of 7.25% to
7.50% in the coming months. The debt mutual funds will attract LTCG
from 1st April 2023 onwards, this would change the perspective of mutual
fund investors toward shorter to medium-duration funds. Hope that the
inflation eases and hence the interest rates may not increase in the future.
Rupee was volatile through the month of March, with the US fed rate, the
global banking crisis and the low FPIs, rising crude prices, escalation in
the Ukraine-Russia war, and lastly the export numbers. The FPIs after the
US fed rate rise are looking at less risky currency getting better returns.
Exports are low due to recession in the other world economies.
Gold prices in India have been on the rise for the past few years and can
be attributed to uncertainties including the global economy, currency
fluctuations, and changes in demand as well as supply of gold. Metals in
the commodity market can provide a hedge against inflation and currency
devaluation. Better inflation numbers could provide support to Gold prices
but would be unstable to curb the interest rate changes.