Don’t go ‘bottom fishing’, wait 'n watch

New Delhi: The unabated free fall in markets, post the US rating downgrade by Standard and Poor’s, is likely to tempt the average investor to go for ‘bottom fishing’. Analysts, however, do not agree on one single strategy to deal with the current Indian equity market situation. They say that before one goes out shopping for stocks, a wait-and-watch approach might come in handy.

“The traders and short-term investors should stay away from the market for at least 2 months, as one can expect some more adverse news from the Western world. However, the medium- to long-term investors, with investment horizon of 6 to 12 months should start accumulating the stocks,” said G Chokkalingam, ED & CIO, Centrum Wealth Management. Head of Investment, India Fidelity International, Alexander Treves, said, “Despite a strong growth outlook and lack of imminent government debt issues, the Asia Pacific region and India in particular, have not been immune to the negative sentiment. However, any companies’ balance sheets are healthy, and we’re finding opportunities to buy stocks on low valuations.”

Dharmesh Pancholi, senior manager at Sharekhan said, “Strategy for long-term investors should be of accumulating quality stocks on declines in staggered way. Investor should be ready to exercise patience.”

Source: Financial Express