That may be the question on the mind of many investors, as the Sensex has been trading between 17300 and 18700 for the past 5 weeks. The short answer is: I have no idea. It could be six weeks or six months. Buyers and sellers seem evenly matched. The post-budget rally appears to have come to an end.
What could be the triggers for the Sensex to move up?
1. The RBI may not increase interest rates on Mar 17. Since inflation remains a concern, another 25 basis points rate hike is being expected by market players. Ms K Morparia of JP Morgan said in a recent TV interview that she won’t be surprised by three more rate hikes of 25 basis points each. Not increasing the interest rate will be taken as a positive by the market.
2. Q4 results will hit the market in another 5 weeks or so. With higher commodity prices and higher interest rates, profitability of India Inc. is widely expected to take a hit. If results are flat, even if not better on a QoQ basis, markets may interpret that as a positive.
3. India is still dependent on good monsoons. Agricultural production gets a boost. That helps the rural economy to grow, and has a cascading effect on the economy as a whole. Signs of a good monsoon may shake the market out of its current gloomy sentiment.
What could be the triggers for the Sensex to go down?
1. Despite several rounds of interest rate hikes by the RBI, inflation continues be in double digits. Government spokespersons have run out of excuses. More rate hikes could bring the growth momentum to a screeching halt.
2. The unrest in North Africa and the Middle East has sent oil prices shooting up into three figures. Economic growth and high oil prices are a disastrous combination for stock markets. If oil prices remain high, India’s fiscal deficit and inflation may spin beyond control. As it is, artificially depressed kerosene and diesel prices is causing havoc to the finances of the oil companies. The real inflation rate is much higher than the published figure.
3. The FIIs have pulled out about $2 Billion from the Indian markets in 2011. This amount is less than 10% of what they invested in 2010. Still the Sensex lost 18% from its Nov ‘10 peak. The relative valuations of the US and Europe markets are cheaper. If the FIIs continue with their selling and pull out another $2 Billion, the Sensex could test its May ‘10 low of 16000.
Looks like the sideways consolidation in the Sensex may continue for a while longer. As I have mentioned several times before, investors should not get too bogged down by Sensex movements. When the market is unexciting and boring, it may be a good time to take a vacation and catch up on your reading. If you have already read books by Graham, Lynch, Fisher, Pring – read them again. You will understand many things that you missed when you read those authors for the first time.
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