India’s domestic fundamentals remain strong as FPI inflows revive: Jefferies’ Chris Wood

New Delhi: Jefferies’ Christopher Wood has reiterated a positive outlook on India, citing strengthening domestic fundamentals, improving credit growth and the return of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), while making changes to his India-focused equity portfolio.

In his latest GREED & Fear note, Wood said foreign investors turned net buyers of Indian equities in July, investing $2.45 billion as global investors unwound positions linked to the technology-driven memory trade.

He said India continues to stand out among emerging markets on the back of improving macroeconomic indicators, with bank credit growth accelerating to 17-18 per cent year-on-year during 2026 which is the fastest pace in more than a decade.

According to the note, corporate lending has emerged as the strongest driver of credit expansion, growing around 20 per cent year-on-year, while loans to the agriculture and retail segments rose 17 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively.

Demand for automobiles and residential property also remained healthy, it added.

Reflecting his positive stance on the Indian market, Wood reshuffled the India long-only portfolio by replacing many domestic firms’ stocks.

Wood also highlighted measures that could support the rupee in the coming months.

He said the Reserve Bank of India’s foreign currency deposit scheme for non-resident Indians (NRIs) — that was launched in June — has already attracted about $41 billion of inflows, exceeding expectations with collections likely to rise to $80-100 billion over the next two months.

He further noted that the government’s decision to exempt foreign investors from tax on interest earned from investments in Indian government bonds has already supported the sovereign debt market and could encourage additional overseas capital inflows.

The expert further stated that all this increases the likelihood that the rupee should stabilise.

In addition, Jefferies continues to remain constructive on Indian government bonds in its global sovereign debt portfolio.

IANS