No one can prove it, but the recent uptick in the Indian stock markets is widely suspected to be the NaMo bounce. NaMo, as in Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for prime minister in case the party wins enough seats to form the next government. Goldman Sachs, Nomura and CLSA, among others, claim to have spotted the NaMo effect and have begun factoring in a stock market rise following a possible BJP victory in the Lok Sabha polls of April-May 2014.
In short, the market mavens are saying that despite depressing economic news—weak industrial output growth, a stagnant GDP, double-digit inflation, and a slippery fiscal situation—a change in the political dispensation will be enough to drive stock prices. They are also penciling in the hope that good politics will henceforth drive good economics.
Will it? Will the NaMo bounce play out even if he comes to power? It would be good to look at the factors that favour a continuation of the bounce, and those that don’t.
The things that won’t change even if Modi is the next prime minister—unless we are expecting a clear BJP majority on its own—is that many bad laws will remain on the statute book. The Food Security Bill cannot be scrapped—and it will be a permanent drain on the central exchequer. The Land Acquisition Bill will make all projects more expensive, and infrastructure will become less viable without huge subsidies. Energy pricing—oil, coal, gas—will be difficult to free if we have a minority government, and subsidy cuts—in fertiliser, for example—will be tough to negotiate with allies, especially with a farmer-friendly Akali Dal as coalition partner.
Labour laws that need wholesale dumping will not be easy to tinker with. And the structural rigidities in agriculture—which hinder interstate movement of farm produce and keep prices at the retail end high—are not something the centre can do anything about.
Why then is the market running ahead of reality? There could be two reasons. One is about sentiment. The one thing a BJP victory would change is the negativity now floating like smog above the Indian economy. Widely seen as business-friendly, a Modi-led government would certainly not do anything to worsen the gloom. It may come as a breath of fresh air.
Though bad laws—like the Food and Land Bills—cannot be easily de-legislated, in India laws can be made to atrophy by any political dispensation that is disinclined to implement them. Since many of the reforms needed to move the economy forward can be executed without major legislative effort, one can assume that NaMo will make a difference in hidden ways even without fooling around with laws.
The second reason why the market is feeling more cheerful than it should is its growing impatience with zero returns. The fact is no one—barring a few punters—has really made money in the stock market for the last five years, and the Sensex is really no higher than what it was in 2008 despite an average growth of over 6 percent a year, during the same period.
If you were to look at the numbers that relate growth to market, each one of them shows that the indices have nowhere to go but up. The Sensex’s price-to-earnings ratio is barely 17—which makes it attractive. This ratio moves in the range of 11 to 27, and 27 is clearly further off from the index right now than 11. In short, one should bet on the upward trajectory, assuming the sky is not going to fall on our heads.
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(This story appears in the 24 January, 2014 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
There\'s a sentiment that majority of people have considerably less confidence in the stock market in lieu of the depressing past 5 years, where many have tried their hands at day trading and other financial instruments, and have come out totally burnt. Really, one is hard pressed to pin point what exactly does an exuberant stock market signify? That romance is long over! The only credible impact on the stock market should and would come, if India, finally gets a majority government after many yoyo years of political and administrative doldrums. Only this should matter, and not that Modi might eventually become a PM in a minority government. Speculations on the performance of the stock market if Modi wins are dangerously self defeating; if the precondition of a majority government is not met.
on Jan 21, 2014Looks like the author is making a political pitch.
on Jan 16, 2014I agree to what you say and have a few point to add to it. As you said, it won't be Modi to turn things overnight and that sentiments will play a larger role, in medium term, we will see small things being played around with. I'm anticipating that Modi will decentralize different blocks like coal, limestone and iron ore. What we will also see is various innovative ideas kept within the existing framework. I clearly remember Modi stating an example of planting trees to divide farmers' land rather than building walls. The plantation will not only contribute to increased forest area or greenery but also the produce can be sold to gain extra income. Also, less timber import means lesser burden on fiscal deficit and CAD. In the long run, if he continues for more than one term, will might see a departure from current taxation system, a part of which might be implemented by 2016-17.
on Jan 16, 2014India has to understand that the novice enthusiasts like AAP is not what it needs. AAP feels that there revolution is waiting at next stop. Better full majority be given to BJP.
on Jan 16, 2014The author seems very much bullish on the Indian stock market. However, it would seem a tall hope to expect that the market would tip 25,000 by the end of the next fiscal year. The question to be asked is whether the stock market and others are expecting Modi to come in, wave his magic wand and bolster the economy. Indeed, the policy changes and the boost to business is something that Modi can support, but I believe that businesses should take a proactive initiate in solving their problems, instead of waiting for Modi. This will be an extremely difficult exercise, given the current conditions, but I believe that this is needed.
on Jan 16, 2014