Investors most underweight on US stocks since 2005, BofA poll shows

Participants in the January poll were “a lot less bearish” than in the fourth quarter, sparking a rotation to emerging markets, Europe and cyclical stocks, and away from pharmaceuticals, technology and the US, strategists led by Michael Hartnett wrote in a note. Allocation to US equities “collapsed” during the first month of 2023, with investors […]

India’s capex spending is likely to slow on lower tax haul

When Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents this year’s budget on Feb. 1, she faces the daunting task of balancing a commitment to narrowing the fiscal deficit with keeping the engines of growth well-oiled. India’s ambition to become the world’s factory hinges on enhancing infrastructure and smoothing out logistics — areas that still need plenty of […]

Small banks may need to boost provisioning: Analysts

Even as most banks have strengthened capital buffers post Covid-19, expected credit loss (ECL)-based norms could release existing provisioning for large banks such as ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank, they said, while some small private players like City Union Bank and DCB Bank may have to accelerate provision buffers and raise capital faster.

Old pension schemes could strain state finances, RBI warns

“The annual saving in fiscal resources that this move entails is short-lived. By postponing the current expenses to the future, states risk the accumulation of unfunded pension liabilities in the coming years,” it said in its report on state finances.

Airtel won’t oppose Vodafone’s bid to sell Indus stake to external buyer

UK’s Vodafone Group and India’s Aditya Birla Group are facing increasing pressure from the government and lenders to infuse equity into Vodafone Idea-their cash-strapped telecom joint venture-to shore up external investor confidence. One of the avenues available to the British telco is selling its remaining or part of the 21.05% stake in Indus and injecting […]