Market analysts said the collapse of Lehman Brothers had been the ultimate blow for financial markets, which were already in deep bearish mood, SMC Capitals Limited CEO and Equity Head Jagannadham Thunuguntla said.
Business Standard September 15, 2009 Emerging Stock Mkts Shrug Off Lehman Blues; Scale Higher Level
1. Emerging stock mkts shrug off Lehman blues; scale higher level
Press Trust of India / New Delhi September 14, 2009, 17:21 IST
Shrugging off the deadly blow received at the time of Lehman Brothers' collapse, stock markets in
emerging countries, led by India, have moved significantly higher from the low levels witnessed a year
ago. Analysts feel green shoots like recovery in economic growth and return of stability in the financial
systems have led to a revival in confidence and risk appetites.
"Emergence of these green shots has brought confidence towards a full fledged recovery and return of
the risk appetite, which is also reflected on the bourses which moved up significantly higher from their low
levels. It's not surprising that emerging markets, which have been at forefront of this recovery, have seen
a significant out performance," Angel Broking VP (Research) Sarabjit Kour Nangra said.
"Lehman is history. Indian markets are not under pressure. They have recovered and are trading at good
levels. Any rise hereinafter has to be attributed to liquidity," CNI Research Chairman and MD Kishor P
Ostwal said.
Moreover, with emerging markets expected to drive the global economic growth, preference towards
them and especially India would continue, Nangra added.
The benchmark index Sensex, which is currently around 16,200 points, has gained nearly 20 per cent
since September 15 last year, the day when Lehman filed for bankruptcy. The index had been at
13,531.27 points in the same day last year.
Market analysts said the collapse of Lehman Brothers had been the ultimate blow for financial markets,
which were already in deep bearish mood.
"The closest victims were the capital markets of United States and that of Europe. The Indian markets
also faced severe fall," SMC Capitals Limited CEO and Equity Head Jagannadham Thunuguntla
said.
Ostwal said India and China would play an important role in determining the global economic health in
times to come.
Analysts said that fortunately unlike other recessions which followed the bursting of asset bubbles, this
time around apart from recapitalisation of the financial system, the governments of the major economies
of the world acted swiftly by slashing interest rates to unprecedented levels and providing fiscal stimuli.
"These measures have aided the return of stability to the financial system and economic activity. Coming
to India, as in most other countries, Indian authorities responded to the global financial crisis with
expansionary macroeconomic policies," Angel Broking's Nangra said.
The factors which have helped the Indian markets in recovery include re-election of the UPA government,
enabling the political stability, and significant domestic demand.
"These factors have brought back the interest of the FIIs into the Indian capital markets and enabled
significant Foreign Institutional Investors inflows," Thunuguntla added.