A lot more of the pizzazz has come back into Indian expert speak as commentators build on the value multiples in the Capital Marrkets. Now that the indices have journeyed into skyscraper Monday – Wednesday, one would wonder why investors bother with an India portfolio at all, as very few got in at 4700 and very few will now get out at 5100 , that the indices if ever will come down for further buying below 4700.

India’s premium also means it identifies the data series for inflation as too much scattered data on primary inflation and fuel inflation thus we now have to work with CCEA’s monthly week1 release of WPI alone.  

Luckily, the banks and infrastructure companies are back even if you count out the redundancies of 1200 at HSBC, 100 at Citi and a few at BNP. Trade Finance should be good for those considering hiring in their banks. Esp as Trade and Finance growth CAGR is likely too remain in the 20s despite the statistics and the infrastructure pad ups. 

StanC is hiring, Singapore and Dubai could probably open up to Indian hiring soon and the US gets rid of outsourcing bug we might even look at global companies getting more H1Bs for welcome immigration in other professions esp in Financial Services and other Travel/Transportation, Education and Healthcare, where we can compete with other diaspora from China and Mexico / LatAm as well for what is due to immigrants that make America’s 47% science jobs and 24% of all jobs. 

The Bank Nifty is pulling out though, If you bought a few puts before Tuesday you would be good for a few millions in the bank too.  And youmay need to book your trades more frequently as it is giving you an opportunity to do that because it mulls new upmoves midway , like probably tomorrow Puts could lose value when Bank Nifty spikes again, before the big move down. 

Hero Moto Corp, HDFC Bank and Bajaj Auto all hit expectations right and made merry of the third quarter encompassing a giant Festival run for India from Dusshera, Diwali nad Id to end with Christmas and the new year celebrations.  

Quarter on Quarter comparisons showed up great daredevil performances by industry leaders even as food inflation, negative for the third week in succession, for the new year’s week ended Jan 7 at -0.42% and Primary Articles at 2.47%, fuel still 14.45% and onions still down 75% on the same week last year. the 52 week average for the jan 7 week (nasdaq/rttnews.com) is 9.96% and this number considerably lower near the 7.41% number for December 2011 Fuel weightage is 31%, and non food articles at 20% weight scored a low 2%. Primary Articles were less than 0.5% for te weeek ended Dec 31 last week

The Nifty stayed above 5018 and you should be buying puts now, (check our choice FAO strategy) as the index may not climb further to 5100 from here without a plateau and thence the breakdown. The remaining optimism will remain on call from today’s results however. 

IPL auctions come back in February, with the entire South African team and the choice speedsters including Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson on the block from down under. 

Back in financial results only 47% of the last two months results announcements were above par in the US incl Citi and JP Morgan below the line and headed for more pain in 2012.

Food inflation wow remained -2.9% after a -3.36% last week, Primary Articles also read easy at 0.51% from 0.10% Fuel inflation was 14.45% from 14.6% last week TTK Prestige results look good with 39% sales growth (YOY), Investment positives from both announcements TTK and Infosys ( more real estate and training!) TTK prestige on the receiving side of rupee depreciation with domestic sales

HDFC will post good growth ( is it tommorrow?? ) safe in NIMs and the IIP growth came back to 6% clip on Transportation and Consumer durables and non durables climbing back from October lows Infy Q4 PAT was a great 23.72 bln

The infra stocks are back having had quite a rest in the fall to 4700. the indices back on a falling spree after banking reached its peak mid day at 8960 odd on the bank nifty, large 20 point premiums on the Nifty 50 futures, starting  a vacuous drop after Infy good results were shot to hell by a “We can’t grow” guidance

The 14% contribution of the food inflation may well bring cheer to the WPI number as Food caught a -3.36% score for the week ended December 24th to bring primary articles to 0.10% from a low 3% number last week and fuel remained suspended at 14.6% for another 25-30% of the basket. Everyuthing else in tow, Foreign inflows should make it a memorable 2012 for India but our local interests and trades of high volumes seem to have caught the index midway to the bottom. Actually there is perhaps just 15% left but one having to agree at these rates and settle down with MTM losses on my 10% risky allocation to the emergin g market play is hardly going to be the likely scenario so one will have to wait considerably more for furious inflows into equity even as markets catch a break below 47 and promptly lose it at 4750 over the last two months. Not a very good advertisement for foreign and local investors. 

Of course QFIs have been welcomed, buybacks allowed with direct auctions on the exchanges to bring equity to a 75% cap and individual investors allowed to enter Indian equity exposures from January 15, following on the ealrier invitation to Individual foreign investors in mutual funds. NO one expected an immediate surge but if that is because of no printed word on the how and why, the regulator should have no problem obliging witht hat as well. 

RBI is admitting that we need more FX buffers now as companies have picked up large amounts of short term debt and while the rush to repay is on and amany with good governance have survived the MTM losses massacre before it began, India’s current account may already face a stretch to buy the oil it needs every other month

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