Business
Tata Motors, Maruti, Ashok Leyland, Hero: In Auto Stocks Rally, Optimism Over PM Modi’s GST Move
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Shares of auto majors, including Hero MotoCorp, Maruti Suzuki India, Ashok Leyland, TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto, rally 5-8% amid expectations of a GST rate cut.
Tata Motors rose nearly 3% on Monday.
The domestic equity market surged on Monday following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on GST reforms, S&P Global’s rating upgrade on India, and other positive global cues. While the benchmark indices, the BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty, are up by over 1.3% each, the automobile stocks are fuelling the rally the most, with the Nifty Auto Index trading higher by an impressive 4.5%.
Shares of auto majors, including Hero MotoCorp, Maruti Suzuki India, Ashok Leyland, TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto, rallied 5-8% on Monday morning amid expectations that the GST rate on vehicles could be reduced from 28% to 18%.
Maruti Suzuki on August 18 hit its all-time high of Rs 14,048 apiece on the NSE, which is up nearly 8.7% compared with the previous close. Ashok Leyland was up by 7.7% at Rs 131.25, Hero MotoCorp was trading higher by 6.7% at Rs 5,024, TVS Motor Company rose 6.8% to Rs 3,226.8, Hyundai Motor India surged by 8.39% to Rs 2,428 apiece on the NSE.
Tata Motors also rose nearly 3% on Monday to Rs 685 in morning, while Mahindra & Mahindra was up by 4.5% at Rs 3,412. Bajaj Auto was trading higher by 3.7% at Rs 8,521.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day Speech during the weekend announced a major overhaul in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure. Though he did not announce any details, reports said the Centre is considering scrapping the current 12% and 28% GST slabs, realigning most items into the 5% and 18% categories. Certain sin or luxury goods may be placed in a new 40% bracket.
The Centre is reportedly expected to lower the GST on passenger vehicles (PVs) and two-wheelers, enhancing their affordability quotient. Currently, two-wheelers are taxed at 28%. Analysts believe a cut to 18% is highly probable.
Brokerage Notes
Global brokerage firm Jefferies in its note said, “All the listed 2W OEMs – Bajaj, Hero, TVS, and Eicher – should benefit from this cut. We see a low probability of differential GST between entry-level and premium 2Ws.”
In passenger vehicles, small cars currently face an effective tax of 29-31% including compensation cess, making Maruti Suzuki one of the biggest potential beneficiaries of a rate cut. SUVs, however, are taxed at 45-50%, a rate Jefferies said is unlikely to change.
“Hybrid vehicles attract a similar GST rate as ICE vehicles, compared with 5% for EVs. Any reduction in GST on hybrids could be positive for Maruti,” the brokerage added.
Commercial vehicles, also taxed at 28%, may see a reduction to 18%. Ashok Leyland, along with Tata Motors and Eicher Motors, would be key gainers in such a scenario, Jefferies said.
Domestic brokerage firm Motilal Oswal Financial Services in its report on August 18 said automobiles will be one of the key segments that stand to benefit from GST rationalisation.
Passenger vehicle makers Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors, currently paying 28% GST, are expected to benefit significantly if rates are lowered to 18%. Commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland may also see demand tailwinds as GST on trucks and buses comes down to 18% from the current 28%, said Motilal Oswal in the report.
Arun Agarwal, vice-president (fundamental research) of Kotak Securities, said, “The potential GST cuts for the automotive products to 18% would lower on-road prices across segments. We believe lower prices would stimulate demand recovery, and the impact would be more in the mass-market segment. Auto manufacturers (OEM) would gain from higher revenue and potentially higher margin, resulting in possible earnings upgrade.”
Auto ancillaries would also gain from the potential GST cut. However, the impact would vary depending on geographical exposure. Auto ancillary companies having higher revenue exposure in the domestic market stands to benefit more, whereas the gains for global suppliers would be lower given higher export exposure and tariff-related uncertainty, he added.
The government is reportedly planning to propose a simplified two-slab GST structure of 5% and 18%, replacing the current four-tier system of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%.
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h…Read More
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h… Read More
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The speed of price rises in the UK has stayed the same, according to data which was collected before the US-Israel war with Iran began.
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Buying continued at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining over 1,700 points during the opening minutes of trading on Wednesday. At 10 am, the benchmark index was at 155,730.37, up 1,764.37 points (1.13%).
Buying interest was observed in key sectors, including automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, fertiliser, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, power generation, and refinery. Index-heavy stocks, including ARL, HUBCO, PSO, MARI, OGDC, POL, PPL, HBL, MCB, and MEBL traded in the green.
On Tuesday, PSX ended with moderate gains as thin volumes and profit-taking capped the upward momentum despite supportive global cues and easing geopolitical concerns.
The KSE-100 Index closed at 153,966.36 points, gaining 1,225.99 points or 0.80%.
K-Electric led trading volumes with over 35 million shares exchanged, coinciding with the company’s announcement of a new chief executive earlier in the day.
Market heavyweights, including Engro Holdings, Fauji Fertiliser Company, Lucky Cement, Systems Limited, and Hub Power Company, contributed significantly to the index gains, while banking and select industrial stocks weighed on overall performance.
Despite the rebound, analysts noted that the market remained cautious after last week’s decline, which was driven by geopolitical uncertainty, particularly tensions in the Middle East, and concerns over global energy prices.
Experts suggest that future market direction will depend on regional stability, energy policy developments, and progress in ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund.
Globally, stocks rose, and oil fell on Wednesday on reports the US is seeking a month-long ceasefire in its war on Iran, and had sent a 15-point plan to Iran for discussion, raising hopes for a resumption of oil exports out of the Persian Gulf.
S&P 500 futures rose 0.9% in the Asian morning, European futures lifted 1.2%, and Brent crude futures fell about 6% to $98.30 a barrel.
Business
Rupee inches closer to 94: Currency falls 20 paise to 93.96 per US dollar in early trade – The Times of India
Rupee on Wednesday took another fall towards the 94 per US dollar mark, tumbling 20 paise in early trade to reach 93.96 against the greenback. This follows a weak run for the currency this month. Earlier on Tuesday, the currency had already slipped by 23 paise to settle at 93.76, pressured by a stronger US dollar against major currencies and elevated global crude oil prices, which weighed on investor sentiment.Rupee has been facing pressure due to foreign fund outflows, with forex traders citing uncertainty linked to the West Asia crisis as a key factor behind the sustained weakness. The currency had already shown signs of strain earlier in the week, inching closer to the psychological 94-level against the US dollar for the first time on Monday, before recovering to close flat at 93.53.“Persistent FPI outflows continue to pressure INR. A strong US dollar is keeping emerging market currencies weak, and the INR has weakened by about 4.5 per cent during the month. The rupee range for Wednesday is expected to be 93.65 to 94.25,” Anil Kumar Bhansali, head of treasury and executive director, Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said. Meanwhile, Dalal Street remained strong with benchmark indices jumping by over 1% each. As of 9:40 am IST, NSE Nifty50 was trading at 23,212.55, up 300.15 or 1.31%. BSE Sensex was also trading in green, gaining almost 900 points or 1.22% to trade at 74,969.91.Uncertainity around the Middle East tensions have also triggered volitality in financial markets. The plunge comes after the United States had put forward a 15-point proposal to Iran aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. US President Donald Trump said Washington and Tehran are “currently in negotiations” and suggested that Iran is eager to strike a peace deal, even as the Islamic Republic has denied holding any direct talks with the United States.
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