India is well placed within EMs from an investment perspective: BNP Paribas

India has handled the pandemic rather well, companies have become more efficient, and there is a cyclical recovery underway, said Abhiram Eleswarapu, head of equities at BNP Paribas India

With the markets scaling record highs, most analysts now expect earnings to catch up to support lofty valuations as economic activity stabilises. ABHIRAM ELESWARAPU, head of equities at BNP Paribas India tells Puneet Wadhwa in an interview that they remain ‘overweight’ on India within the Asia ex-Japan universe for its corresponding late recovery as compared to other markets such as China. Edited excerpts:

What is your stance and outlook for Indian equities?

We remain constructive on emerging market (EM) equities for 2021, based upon the wide availability of Covid vaccines by the second half of the year (H2-21), continuing reflationary