Unmesh Kulkarni: Banking & Financial Stocks Valuations are Highly Attractive

On September 23, the Indian stock markets achieved impressive milestones, with the BSE’s Sensex and NSE’s Nifty registering record highs. While this surge has brought joy to investors, it has simultaneously raised concerns about high valuations and the challenge of identifying profitable investment opportunities. To provide insights into this situation, Moneycontrol consulted Unmesh Kulkarni, the Managing Director of Julius Baer India, who has over two decades of experience in wealth management.

Kulkarni pointed out that one of the most promising sectors for investment currently is the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector. Despite facing challenges such as pressure on net interest margins, the BFSI sector has solid opportunities due to notable credit growth, enhancements in asset quality, and attractive valuations. Beyond BFSI, he noted that sectors like consumption and automotive are also ripe for investment, especially as demand recovers in rural areas, fueled by rising incomes. Furthermore, the healthcare sector shows potential for medium to long-term investments.

Kulkarni also addressed the anticipated reduction in interest rates in India, forecasting a gradual decrease starting as early as December this year or February next year. He emphasized that this will not be an aggressive reduction like that seen in the US but rather a measured approach, reflecting the robust growth of the Indian economy. Key indicators supporting this projection include controlled inflation, strong GST collections, and increasing consumption trends in both urban and rural areas, the latter bolstered by favorable monsoon rains.

When asked about the future performance of the Indian stock markets, Kulkarni expressed optimism regarding the medium-term outlook. Despite a decline in foreign investment, the market has experienced significant growth, supported by healthy liquidity and robust earnings growth from companies. There has been a noticeable trend of retail investors directly participating in the stock market, alongside investments flowing in through mutual funds, Portfolio Management Services (PMS), and Alternative Investment Funds (AIF).

Despite the favorable outlook, Kulkarni cautioned investors to remain vigilant regarding potential challenges. He highlighted the possibility of a slowdown in corporate earnings, which could impact the Nifty index. Additionally, concerns regarding high valuations persist, alongside the risk of weakness in global markets that could spill over into the Indian context. Nonetheless, he believes domestic investment will provide necessary support to the market, particularly during periods of sharp declines.