Brokerages advise caution as euphoria grips markets

A host of brokerages have asked investors to trade cautiously saying the uncertainty with regard to the outcome of Lok Sabha elections continues, even as stock markets have scaled new highs on the hopes of BJP-led coalition coming to power at the Centre.
Exit polls on close of the nine-phased elections yesterday had projected 249-290 seats to the Narendra Modi-led BJP, which is close to the half-way mark in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
Some brokerages are of the view that though the markets are on a rapid rise investors should stay cautious ahead of the general elections results on May 16 as both the opinion and exit polls had misjudged the final outcome in 2004 and 2009.

These brokerages are Credit Suisse, Barclays, UBS, Citigroup, Nomura, Karvy Securities, Nirmal Bang securities and WealthRays.
According to a UBS research report, the India VIX (volatility index) has gone up to 37.1 as of now (it had touched a high of 56 in May, 2009) from below 30 a month ago.
"Markets are rallying based on expectations that NDA will form the government, but it could respond differently post the announcement of exit polls and election results," Karvy said in a research report.

The BSE benchmark Sensex today breached the 24,000-level for the first time and ended at a new closing peak of 23,871.23 after exit polls said BJP-led NDA government would come to power at the Centre.

The NSE Nifty also spurted by 94.50 points to close at a new record of 7,108.75.
Nirmal Bang Securities said: "While the market is likely to react in euphoria to these exit polls this morning, as has been the case on Friday & Monday, we would advise erring on the side of caution."
Analysts asked investors not to bet on such numbers as they believe that the NDA win has already been factored in.
"While the rally since then suggests a higher number is priced in, exit poll results seem to be still higher. However, we are still in a range of high uncertainty....," Credit Suisse said in a research note, adding that "May 16 may still throw surprises".

Stock markets are widely expected to witness huge volatility on May 16. It may be noted that both Sensex and Nifty had hit their upper circuit levels within minutes of opening on May 18, 2009 when early trends in the previous Lok Sabha elections started trickling in.
Nomura in a research report said: "We view exit polls with some caution based on the results in 2004 and 2009, and especially in this case where there appears to be a differential between them and the majority of pre-election opinion polls.