Asian markets are lower as investors monitor the latest developments related to the Covid omicron variant. Nikkei is trading lower by 0.05%, Hang Seng trading lower by 0.36% and Shanghai is trading lower by 0.26%.

CV demand remains robust on the back of economic recovery. Our channel checks indicate volume degrowth for 2Ws and PVs, as the festive season was worst impacted from semiconductor shortage. On the back of huge order backlogs, PV segment sales fared far better than 2W segment (despite decline). We believe that the industry could witness pickup in retails by year-end, if OEMs are able to realign chip supply with current demand given Malaysian semiconductor supply normalizing. Entry-level sales stood subdued for 2W and PV both. Demand for SUV and...

Affordable housing is not about box-sized, budget homes in far-flung places, where there is no connectivity to work places and little surrounding infrastructure. Affordable housing has to be able to cut across all income segments and has to make economic sense in terms of proximity to work place. The agenda for affordable housing requires a combined publicprivate collaboration and a strong political will to enforce change Excerpts from Deepak...

BFSI Event Update: RBI OWNERSHIP/CORPORATE STRUCTURE GUIDELINES Positive for: Indusind Bank, HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra *Pl note all banks mentioned above may not be under our coverage

Whenever a new licensing guideline is issued, if new rules are more relaxed, benefit should be given to existing banks, immediately. If new rules are tougher, earlier licensees should transition to new guidelines but the transition path should be finalized in consultation with earlier licensees to ensure compliance in non-disruptive manner. View: This means if the NoFHC structure attains tax neutral status, any adherence to the NoFHC norm from earlier licensees such as SBI, and Kotak Mahindra Bank would be non-disruptive in nature....

Winds of Change?

Asian markets are lower amidst renewed Covid fears after World Health Organization officials stated that they are monitoring a new Covid variant with a large number of mutations. Nikkei is trading lower by 2.38%, Hang Seng trading lower by 1.87% and Shanghai is trading lower by 0.40%.

An upper middle class growing 2.8x over 2018-30E and low ownership levels will spur new, upgrade and replacement demand for durables

Indian market closed negative during the week. Nifty and Sensex down this week by 4.16% and 4.24% respectively.