MC Market Poll: Most experts predict further dip in Nifty but year-end closing near current level

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Half of the respondents were of the view that the Nifty would end the current calendar year between 23,000 and 25,000, indicating a return of 9 percent at the higher end. Sixteen percent predicted an annual closing above 25,000. Seventeen percent of respondents predicted a range between 21,000 and 23,000, indicating a downside of 9 percent, while 12 percent predicted a close below 21,000.

So far this year, the Nifty has gained 5.68 percent. The Nifty touched a low of 21,239, which is 8 percent below the current level.

The possibility of policy paralysis and an earnings slowdown are cited as the biggest risks to markets in the coming months. However, the market could rally if factors like political stability, along with policy continuity and earnings growth, are visible in the near future, they say.

The modest expectations come as no surprise given that 46 percent of the respondents said that current valuations were expensive, while the remaining 54 percent said valuations were reasonable. No one said the market was cheap.

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Another interesting finding of the survey was related to the PSU segment, which has been the market darling over the past few years. This segment saw the sharpest gains in the run-up to the elections and was at the receiving end on June 4 with the steepest falls. A high 83 percent of the respondents said that they will not look at increasing their exposure to the PSU segment from their current levels.

In terms of sectors, though, FMCG, pharma, private banks, auto, capital goods, and IT continued to be on the favored list of a majority of the respondents.

Further, 65 percent of the respondents also said that midcaps and small caps will not be able to outperform the large caps going ahead in the current calendar year.

The market was more or less divided on whether foreign investors will emerge as new buyers in the market this year. Fifty-two percent believe that FPIs will end CY24 as net buyers, while the rest stated otherwise.

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Clearly, the election dust is not yet settled as far from settled, it’s clear the market is bracing for a wild ride ahead. Buckle up, investors—this year promises to be anything but dull.

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