The World This Week Jan 14 – Jan 18, 2013

Equity View:

The Q3 result season continued last week with many companies across various sectors announcing good results. After Infosys Q3 results announcement both TCS and HCL announced good set of results with commendable quarter on quarter growth. After several quarters we have seen an uptake in pricing. As far as the IT industry is concerned, the volume growth has seen lesser pressure as compared to the last few quarters. Based on the results that we have seen, we have changed our stance for the IT space from underweight to equal weight and believe that the IT space has the potential to be an equal weight and may be a market performer from this point onwards. Reliance Industries Limited declared its Q3 results on Friday. The company did surprise all with a 24% year-on-year increase in profits. It has demonstrated very strong gross refining margins at $9.5 per barrel as compared to expectation of around $8.5 per barrel. The chemical margins were also strong. This would lead to upgrade of Reliance industries across brokerage houses. We have upgraded our target price for Reliance from Rs 950 to Rs 1100 per share post the results. In the BFSI space we continue to see private sector banks coming up with very good set of numbers. After Axis bank’s strong performance, we saw HDFC bank coming up with a 30% year-on-year increase in profits. That is the 22nd consecutive quarter in which HDFC bank has delivered 30% profit growth which is stellar by any standards. However, the bank witnessed some pressure on NIMs. The NIMs fell by almost 10 bps but this was more of a result of re-pricing of some assets and we expect margins to remain largely flat over the course of this year. We continue to maintain a positive stance for private sector banking space. In terms of key macro economic events we have the RBI Monetary Review policy on 29th January. We expect a 50 bps repo cut, despite the governor expressing his reservations about inflation numbers. We believe that the growth has cooled off significantly and there is significant monetary easing expected during the course of this year. We expect 100-150 bps cut in repo rate during the calendar year 2013. If the 50 bps rate cut is not done in the January review, then we could see a 25 bps cut in January and another 25 bps cut in March Review. There is lot of talk about a cut in CRR by 25 bps as the liquidity has remained extremely tight in the system. We continue to have a positive stance as far as the monetary easing is concerned. The government on Thursday authorised oil marketing companies (OMCs) to hike diesel prices from time to time. This in effect translates into a partial deregulation of diesel prices. As we are maintaining that diesel subsidy is the biggest subsidy the Government of India (GOI) has to bear, for the current fiscal the expected diesel subsidy is of the order of Rs. 1,00,000 crores and if we are moving towards the environment where diesel price will be fully deregulated, then going forward i.e. by FY 2014-15 there will be a significant reduction in subsidies, which in turn would reduce the fiscal deficit. This of course is contingent to the kind of political risks that the current government is willing to take. The first 45 paise hike in diesel prices was effective from Friday. There is still an under-recovery of around Rs.9, which means that GOI will have to carry out price increase for the next 15-18 months to become at par (this is assuming the crude oil prices would stay at the current levels). We believe that from a fiscal perspective it is a right step and any significant reduction or expectation of reduction in the fiscal deficit will be taken as a big positive not just by the rating agencies but would also

reflect in the currency market as we have already seen see rupee appreciate by almost 100 paise in the last 15-20 days and is currently trading at a 3 month high. We could see a further upside in rupee if reform measures continue. We also expect further movement as far as the disinvestment program is concerned between now and mid March. We might see a lot of disinvestments in PSUs like Oil India, ONGC etc. One of the big cushions from the fiscal deficit perspective is the announcement of new dates for the auction of 2G spectrum. The cabinet has also approved a 50 percent cut in the auction reserve price for airwaves used by phone carriers on the CDMA platform. This could add another Rs. 10000-15000 crore in fiscal consolidation and help in reducing some concerns about the fiscal deficit numbers. Hence, with all the positives that we are getting from the macro perspective, fiscal perspective and earnings perspective, we maintain a positive stance on the Indian equities and reiterate our year end Sensex target on 25,300.

News: DOMESTIC MACRO:

The wholesale price index (WPI), India's main inflation indicator, rose an annual 7.18% in December, the slowest since December 2009 and below analysts' forecast of 7.4% rise in a Reuters poll. Wholesale prices rose 7.24% in November.

India's annual consumer price inflation accelerated to 10.56% in December from the previous month 9.90%

The government told fuel retailers to raise the price of subsidised diesel in small amounts every month starting Friday in an attempt to prop up public finances without causing a popular backlash before elections.

The General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR), aimed at companies and investors routing money through tax havens such as Mauritius, had been scheduled to be implemented from April 2014. They will now come into effect from April 1, 2016.

GLOBAL MACRO

EURO

The European Central Bank held interest rates at a record low of 0.75% on Thursday, refraining from a cut following fledgling signs of life in the euro zone economy and with inflation still above target.

US

The U.S. House of Representatives will consider a bill next week to extend the debt limit by three months in order to force the Senate to pass a budget, Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said on Friday.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 37,000 to a seasonally adjusted 335,000, the lowest level since January 2008, the Labor Department said. It was the largest weekly drop since February 2010.

The United States faces a "material risk" of losing its triple-A status if there is a repeat of the wrangling seen in 2011 over raising the country's self-imposed debt ceiling, credit ratings firm Fitch said on Tuesday.

China

China's foreign direct investment inflows fell last year for the first time since the global financial crisis, slipping 4% as a troubled world economy curbed investor enthusiasm for deals in emerging markets.

Satadru Mitra Varun Goel Jharna Agarwal

Abbas Naheed Kinjal Mehta

Disclaimer

The information and views presented here are prepared by Karvy Private Wealth (a division of Karvy Stock Broking

Limited) or other Karvy Group companies. The information contained herein is based on our analysis and upon sources

that we consider reliable. We, however, do not vouch for the accuracy or the completeness thereof. This material is for

personal information and we are not responsible for any loss incurred based upon it.

The investments discussed or recommended here may not be suitable for all investors. Investors must make their own

investment decisions based on their specific investment objectives and financial position and using such independent

advice, as they believe necessary. While acting upon any information or analysis mentioned here, investors may please

note that neither Karvy nor any person connected with any associated companies of Karvy accepts any liability arising

from the use of this information and views mentioned here.

The author, directors and other employees of Karvy and its affiliates may hold long or short positions in the above-

mentioned companies from time to time. Every employee of Karvy and its associated companies are required to disclose

their individual stock holdings and details of trades, if any, that they undertake. The team rendering corporate analysis

and investment recommendations are restricted in purchasing/selling of shares or other securities till such a time this

recommendation has either been displayed or has been forwarded to clients of Karvy. All employees are further restricted

to place orders only through Karvy Stock Broking Ltd.

The information given in this document on tax are for guidance only, and should not be construed as tax advice. Investors

are advised to consult their respective tax advisers to understand the specific tax incidence applicable to them. We also

expect significant changes in the tax laws once the new Direct Tax Code is in force – this could change the applicability

and incidence of tax on investments

Karvy Private Wealth (A division of Karvy Stock Broking Limited) operates from within India and is subject to Indian

regulations.

Karvy Stock Broking Ltd. is a SEBI registered stock broker, depository participant having its offices at:

702, Hallmark Business plaza, Sant Dnyaneshwar Marg, Bandra (East), off Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai 400 051 .

(Registered office Address: Karvy Stock Broking Limited, “KARVY HOUSE”, 46, Avenue 4, Street No.1, Banjara Hills,

Hyderabad 500 034)

SEBI registration No’s:”NSE(CM):INB230770138, NSE(F&O): INF230770138, BSE: INB010770130, BSE(F&O):

INF010770131,NCDEX(00236, NSE(CDS):INE230770138, NSDL – SEBI Registration No: IN-DP-NSDL-247-2005, CSDL-SEBI

Registration No:IN-DP-CSDL-305-2005, PMS Registration No.: INP000001512”