Friday, March 27, 2020

Marc Faber: This Is Not a Recession, It’s an Ice Age


Financial markets are facing their worst crisis since 1929, a veteran analyst told CNBC on Friday, as top economists downgraded their forecasts to point to an impending global recession. 

Even though stocks across Europe, the U.S. and Asia looked to be heading for some welcome reprieve on Friday, analyst Stephen Isaacs said the coronavirus crisis is “unprecedented” since there were already record levels of leverage and overbought stocks. 

“We came into this with all sorts of problems hiding within the momentum of a massive bull market, which again leads me to feel extremely concerned that the selling is only abating temporarily, and that we are still looking, unfortunately at a very, very difficult situation,” the chairman of Alvine Capital Management’s 
investment committee told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe.”

- Source, Ameer Rosic

Saturday, March 21, 2020

As the coronavirus outbreak expands to more countries, it may have adverse effect on stock markets

It seems the markets might not be away from the impact of the deadly Coronavirus. A report by Livemint showed that investors have been selling the stocks with Nifty 50 being down 7% from in the past six trading sessions.

On Friday, Bajaj Finance Ltd was trading 7% lower. Experts feel that the impact of the virus can potentially start a long-term global slowdown. The fall in the trade is also due to the present equity valuations which are already stretched.

The report further states that both domestic and global markets were already trading at record levels and extremely high valuations a month ago. Nifty soared to a price-earnings multiple of over 19 times on the financial year of 2021 earnings, which is quite worrisome. Any slowdown in the global markets will see the stocks getting re-priced at lower rates.

The larger concern remains to what extent will the markets be affected by the virus. Europe is now registering new cases while America has also seen a spike in cases. Global equity research firm Jefferies has warned that the outbreak of the disease can not just cause a problem for hospitals but also rattle the markets as well. Jefferies further noted, “If not managed correctly, this could significantly rattle markets.”

Tourism, as well as the airline sector, are in danger of shrinking if the virus remains rampant. Due to Wuhan being the origin point of this disease, prices of major metals are down. Sectors such as pharmaceuticals and upstream oil and gas companies are also vulnerable to a slowdown since China accounts for about 15% of the global economy.

Although India is not directly affected, a global risk-off mode means foreign investors will be shuffling their portfolios and gold to safe havens such as US Treasuries. So, prolonged uncertainty in the equity market cannot be ruled out until the impact of the virus can be quantified and curtailed.

The markets can regain itself, depending on the pace to which the virus can be contained.

According to Marc Faber, the coronavirus is just the catalyst to a decline which had started by ignoring the slowdown of the global economy since 2019. So the virus simply has enforced its impact. On Friday, the BSE Sensex plunged nearly 1,450 points amid rising concerns of the virus.

- Source, OP India

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Press Panic Button, or Use Crash to Buy Stocks?

"If Indian stocks, the blue chips I am talking about, are selling at 40-50 price-to-earnings ratios, I think the market has a significant downside risk, given that the coronavirus is destroying the entire conference industry, the entire travel industry, business travel, the hospitality industry. 

For a while, nobody is going to travel. So I am telling you India is as vulnerable, if not more, than other markets."

Friday, March 6, 2020

Marc Faber Explains the Risk Off Mode


Oil stocks trading at depressed valuations. Developing real estate will add value to a portfolio, says Marc Faber. Tune in for the exclusive conversation on the impact of coronavirus on business, global currencies, and precious metals.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Marc Faber: What Do Low Crude Oil Prices Mean?


Investors should not panic & sell-off on the rebound. India is a special case; low crude oil is beneficial for India to an extent, says Marc Faber to ET NOW.