INDIA MONETARY POLICY OCTOBER 1 NAB Group The RBI cut the policy rate by bp to.% at the October meeting. This decision was chaired by the -member Monetary Policy Committee under the newlyappointed Governor, Urjit Patel. While committed to the medium term inflation target of 4%+/-%, there was a specific mention of supporting growth. NAB is forecasting one more rate cut to % by the end of March 17. The main risk to the forecast stems from higher than expected food price inflation. Monetary policy decision At the 4 th October meeting, the RBI cut the policy repo rate by bp to.%. This was a landmark meeting for a number of reasons. It was the first meeting under the helm of Dr. Urjit Patel, who succeeded Dr. Raghuram Rajan. The decision was made by a -member Monetary policy committee, as opposed to one solely made by the Governor. The six-member committee consists of 3 members from the RBI (including Governor Patel), and 3 respected academics. A final point worth mentioning was the medium term commitment to the 4%+/-% inflation target was adhered to. However, there was no explicit reference to attaining a 4% inflation target by March 18 as in prior statements. This, coupled with a focus on growth, suggests a somewhat more dovish stance. Policy rates 1 1 8 4 Oct-8 Apr-9 Source: DX/RBI Oct-9 Policy Rates: Repo, Reverse Repo & MSF Apr-1 Oct-1 Apr-11 Oct-11 Apr-1 MSF Repo Reverse Repo An easing in inflationary pressures in August, combined with soft industrial activity indicators, helped facilitate the rate cut. Consumer price inflation fell in yoy terms - from.1% in July to.1% in August. Lower food prices were a critical factor in bringing down the overall Oct-1 Apr-13 Oct-13 Apr-14 Oct-14 Apr-1 Rate cut Oct-1 Apr-1 Oct-1 level of consumer prices. Year ended growth in food prices eased from 8.3% in July to.9% in August, with notable declines in the pace of price increases for pulses and vegetables. Headline inflation measures 1 1 - -1 Aug-8 Source:CEIC Feb-9 Aug-9 Feb-1 Aug-1 Food price inflation 4 - Indian Headline Inflation Pulses Vegetables Food Industrial Workers CPI New CPI WPI Feb-1 Further, the RBI indicated that sowing for the kharif (summer) crop exceeded last year, except for cotton, sugarcane, jute and mesta. As a result, the Ministry of Agriculture s advance estimates (13.3 million tonnes) for the summer crop have exceeded the targets (13.7 million tonnes) set for the year: This increased level of food production should ease Aug-1-4 Indian Food price inflation Date October 1 Author John Sharma Economist Sovereign Risk National Australia Bank Limited ABN 1 4 44 937 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 38 1
India Monetary Policy October 1 overall prices, given that food accounts for slightly under % of the CPI basket. Core (ex food and fuel) inflation remains sticky around 4.%, largely impacted by higher prices in health, education and personal care products. recent data on the infrastructure sector in August revealed growth in the steel, cement and fertilizer sectors. Against that, coal, crude oil and natural gas declined. Core Industries Core inflation Infrastructure Industries: Annual Growth. Core Inflation in India: CPI vs WPI %GE YOY. 1. 4.. CPI. WPI -1. -.. Source: NAB Economic conditions The RBI mentioned the anaemic pace of global trade in its Monetary policy statement. India has also been affected by the general malaise in global trade. Exports have generally been weak since the beginning of 1. In July, they contracted by -.3% in yoy terms. Imports fell more sharply (-14.1%), which helped keep the trade deficit in check. Electricity Cement Steel Fertilizers Natural Gas Crude Refinery Products Apr-1 Dec-1 Apr-1 Dec-14-4. Finally, an upturn in investment activity is critical for India to achieve faster rates of growth. Investment activity remains muted, and this is clearly evident in the poor outcomes for the capital goods segment of industrial production. Industrial production by use Industrial Production: Use-Based 4 3 Basic Capital Inter Consumer Merchandise trade Foreign Trade: USD Basis 1 1-1 - 8-3 i Aug-1 Feb-1 Aug-1-8 - Industrial production -Sector IP Mining Mfg Jan-1 Jul-1 Jan-1 Jul-14 Jan-14 Jul-13 Jan-13 Despite weakness in the industrial sector, other activity indicators remain encouraging. Motor vehicle sales surged by 1.8% yoy in September, building on the strong momentum in August. Further, air passenger traffic- particularly for domestic aviation has been growing strongly. Air passenger traffic Industrial Production: Sectoral Jul-1 Exports Oil Imports Non-oil Imports -4 Jan-1 - Jul-11 Jul-1 Jan-11-4 4 Coal Infrastructure -. Electricity International & Domestic Passenger Traffic: Air 1 4 1 3 Passenger - I - Aug-1 Industrial activity remains weak, with the index of industrial production contracting by -.4% in July, driven by a -3.4% decline in manufacturing. More Passenger - D -1 Feb-1 Jan-1 Jul-1 Jan-1 Jul-14 Jan-14 Jul-13 Jan-13 Jul-1 Jan-1 Jul-11 Jan-11 Jul-1-1 1 Aug-1 - yoy -3.
India Monetary Policy October 1 External and Financials Indian equities have steadily increased over the past 3 months, but have ebbed and flowed with geopolitical and economic developments. Heightened tensions with Pakistan in late September led to a decline in the Mumbai Sensex, but it recovered following the rate cut announcement. Interestingly, public sector banks too gained from the rate cut, indicating the expected beneficial impact of the rate cut on their stressed asset portfolio. Foreign portfolio investors remained net buyers of Indian debt and equity in September. During the first week of October, foreign investors purchased USD17.1 million in equities, continuing the positive trends in September. Indian equities Index 3, 3,,, 1, 1,, -Sep-1 Foreign portfolio investors INR Millions 4, 3,, 1, -1, -, -3, -4, Source: DX Sep-1 14- Mar-11 1-Jul-13 -Dec-13 Net Equity Net Debt Sep-11 Mumbai Sensex Mar-1 -May-14 -Sep-14 Rising tensions with Pakistan 3, 3,,, 1, 1,, The Indian rupee has remained broadly range-bound around. INR/USD. More recently, the rupee rose slightly against the USD following sustained inflows from overseas equity investors, a somewhat weaker than expected US labour market release, and selling of the greenback by banks and exporters. As with the exchange rate, FX volatility remained steady. It did spike up slightly towards the end of September, when tensions with Pakistan rose appreciably in the Kashmir region. - -Jul-1 RBI rate cut 17-Dec-1 17-May-1 1-Oct-1 FII Flows: Net Debt & Net Equity Sep-1 Mar-13 Sep-13 Mar-14 Sep-14 Mar-1 Sep-1 Mar-1 Sep-1 Indian Rupee 3 4 4 7 7 31-Oct-1 1-Mar-13 FX Volatility India s foreign exchange reserves have continued to increase. The most recent data indicate that reserves have risen to a recent high of USD37bn. This should help it tide over external challenges, including the reversal of the FCNR (Foreign Currency Non Resident) swaps over the next -3 months. FX Reserves USD M 18 14 1 3-Mar-1 -May-1 4, 3, 3,,, 1, 1, 1-Jan-1 Outlook 9-17-Sep-1 31-Dec-13 -May-14 INR/USD 1-Oct-14 At the monetary policy meeting, the RBI indicated a continuation of its accommodative monetary policy stance. A major development is the lower target for the neutral real rate: it has been brought down to 1.% from 1.-% previously Further, the 1-year Treasury bill rate is the reference rate for the purpose 9-Mar-1 3-Jul-1 Depreciation 18-Dec-1 3-Month Implied FX Volatility -Jul-1 14-Sep-1 9-Nov-1 4-Jan-1 9- -Apr-1 India's FX Reserves: USD- M -May-11 -Jan-1 1-Sep-1 4-May-13 4-Jan-14 -Sep-14 -Jun-1 -May-1 9-May-1 1-1-Oct-1 9-Jan-1 3 4 4 7 7 1-Oct-1 18 14 1 3-Sep-1 3
India Monetary Policy October 1 of calculating the real interest rate. Moreover, the policy (Repo) rate is typically -bps below the T Bill rate, opening up space for one more cut to the policy rate. While the RBI has highlighted upside risks to its % inflation projection by March, 17 due to cost push factors, including the 7 th Pay Commission awards, it mentioned that the upside risks were lower than prior projections. Further, the RBI indicated improved sowing and Government measures to improve supply, as well as ease food inflation particularly pulses NAB is forecasting the RBI to cut the policy rate once more to % by the end of March 17. Inflation projections CONTACT THE AUTHOR John Sharma Economist Sovereign Risk John_sharma@national.com.au +13 834 414 Tom Taylor Head of International Tom_Taylor@national.com.au +13 834 1883 1. 1... -. -1. -1. CPI Inflation: Base & Momentum Effects Base Momentum Mthly Change -. Feb-17 Aug-17 Source:NAB Looking ahead, the base effects are largely favourable for inflation outlook, with the exception of January and February 17. However, the momentum of inflation will be keenly watched for by the RBI. A final issue is the upcoming GST legislation. Whilst this should boost growth and improve the business environment, it could generate inflationary pressures. According to the RBI, an 18% rate would likely have very modest impacts on the inflation outlook. However, at % this would rise to between.3-.7%, with the impact most keenly felt in segments such as healthcare (excluding medicines). With uncertainties regarding the GST during the 17-18 financial year (year to March, 18), the RBI might prefer to front load the rate cut, and wait and see how the GST impacts on prices. 4
India Monetary Policy October 1 Group Alan Oster Group Chief Economist +1 3 834 97 Jacqui Brand Personal Assistant +1 3 834 181 Global Markets Research Peter Jolly Global Head of Research +1 937 14 Australian and Commodities Riki Polygenis Head of Australian +(1 3) 897 934 James Glenn Australia +(1 3) 98 819 Vyanne Lai +(1 3) 834 198 Phin Ziebell +1 () 47 94 Amy Li +(1 3) 834 13 Behavioural & Industry Dean Pearson Head of Behavioural & Industry +(1 3) 834 331 Robert De Iure Behavioural & +(1 3) 834 411 Brien McDonald Behavioural & +(1 3) 834 3837 Steven Wu Economist Behavioural & +(13) 98 99 International Tom Taylor Head of, International +(1 3) 834 1883 Tony Kelly International +(1 3) 98 49 Gerard Burg Asia +(1 3) 834 788 John Sharma Economist Sovereign Risk +(1 3) 834 414 Australia Ivan Colhoun Chief Economist, Markets +1 937 183 David de Garis +1 3 841 34 Tapas Strickland Economist +1 937 198 FX Strategy Ray Attrill Global Co-Head of FX Strategy +1 937 1848 Rodrigo Catril Currency Strategist +1 993 719 Interest Rate Strategy Skye Masters Head of Interest Rate Strategy +1 99 119 Alex Stanley Senior Interest Rate Strategist +1 937 814 Credit Research Michael Bush Head of Credit Research +1 3 841 7 Simon Fletcher Senior Credit Analyst FI +1 937 17 Andrew Jones Credit Analyst +1 3 841 978 Distribution Barbara Leong Research Production Manager +1 937 811 New Zealand Stephen Toplis Head of Research, NZ +4 4 474 9 Craig Ebert +4 4 474 799 Doug Steel +4 4 474 93 Kymberly Martin Senior Market Strategist +4 4 94 74 Jason Wong Currency Strategist +4 4 94 7 Yvonne Liew Publications & Web Administrator +4 4 474 9771 UK/Europe Nick Parsons Head of Research, UK/Europe, and Global Co-Head of FX Strategy +44771 993 Gavin Friend Senior Markets Strategist +44 7 71 1 Derek Allassani Research Production Manager +44 7 71 13 Asia Christy Tan Head of Markets Strategy/Research, Asia +8 8 3 Julian Wee Senior Markets Strategist, Asia + 3 8 Important Notice This document has been prepared by National Australia Bank Limited ABN 1 4 44 937 AFSL 38 ("NAB"). Any advice contained in this document has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any advice in this document, NAB recommends that you consider whether the advice is appropriate for your circumstances. NAB recommends that you obtain and consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or other disclosure document, before making any decision about a product including whether to acquire or to continue to hold it. Please click here to view our disclaimer and terms of use.