Business News

India's manufacturing sector growth accelerated in April to its strongest pace in 10 months, powered by robust export demand and increased output despite companies raising selling prices at the fastest rate in over 11 years, a survey showed on Friday. The HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, inched up to 58.2 in April from 58.1 in March, a tad lower than a preliminary estimate of 58.4. PMI readings above 50.0 indicate growth in activity, while those below that level point to a contraction. "The notable increase in new export orders in April may indicate a potential shift in production to India, as businesses adapt to the evolving trade landscape and U.S. tariff announcements," said Pranjul Bhandari, chief India economist at HSBC. Manufacturing output expanded at the sharpest rate since June 2024, with consumer goods makers registering the fastest increase among the surveyed sectors. New orders remained buoyant, with growth holding close to March's eight-month high. Export orders grew at the second-fastest pace in over 14 years, behind only January's surge. Survey respondents reported increased sales to clients across the world. The hiring pace also accelerated from March, with both permanent and temporary contracts being offered. Meanwhile, healthy demand allowed manufacturers to hike their selling prices at the steepest pace since October 2013, passing on rising costs to customers. This aggressive pricing strategy occurred even as input cost inflation remained moderate. "Input prices increased slightly faster, but the impact on margins could be more than offset by the much-faster rise in output prices," Bhandari added. Business confidence remained historically high, with over 30% of manufacturers forecasting higher output in the year ahead.

Mumbai: Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) have surpassed foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) in ownership of companies listed on the National Stock Exchange for the first time in more than 22 years, underscoring the growing appetite of Indians for equities.The data also highlights overseas fund managers' shrinking interest in Indian stocks, as rich share valuations along with a slowdown in earnings growth have prompted them to cut their holdings here.In the March quarter, DII holdings rose 73 basis points (0.73 percentage point) to 17.62%, while FPI holdings edged down 2 basis points to 17.22%, showed data compiled by primeinfobase.com. FPIs held 20.71% ten years ago, more than the then combined 18.47% holding of DIIs, retail investors and high-net-worth individuals.Domestic institutions, including mutual funds, insurance companies and pension funds, have been pumping money into the stock market for the past five years, armed with a flood of inflows from individual investors who have shifted a portion of their savings from traditional avenues such as fixed deposits and real estate to equities, enamoured by superior returns."The savings landscape in India has evolved," said Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund chief executive A Balasubramanian. 120807177 Insurers Join the Party "More individuals are now opting for mutual funds, the National Pension System, insurance and direct equities... this has led to an increase in DIIs' ownership of equities," said Balasubramanian.While the DII holding is likely to go up, he also expects the current FPI inflows to be sustained, "as broader emerging market capital flows are returning to India while significant inflows may resume in the second half of the year".The Nifty50 index declined half a per cent in the March quarter, while the Nifty Midcap 150 and Nifty Smallcap 250 plunged 10% and 15%, respectively. FPIs sold shares worth ₹1.36 lakh crore in the March quarter, whereas DIIs invested nearly ₹1.9 lakh crore. The retail ownership in NSE-listed companies declined marginally by 19 bps while the stake of high-net-worth individuals fell 11 bps.Prime Database Group managing director Pranav Haldea said the Indian capital market is having a landmark moment. "Domestic mutual funds, flush with retail money coming through SIPs, continued to play a huge role in this," he said. These mutual funds have made a net investment of ₹1.16 lakh crore in the last quarter, taking their share in NSE-listed companies to double digits for the first time at 10.35% as on March 31, up from 9.93% three months earlier, he added.Domestic insurance companies, too, joined the party with a net purchase of ₹47,538 crore during the quarter. Alternative investment funds and portfolio management services net bought ₹3,885 crore and ₹1,137 crore, respectively.Increased domestic participation has contributed to a more resilient market of late. Earlier, in October 2008, when foreigners sold ₹16,000 crore in equities, the market had dropped 25%. But now, even when they sold ₹87,000 crore in a single month this January, the Nifty declined just 2-3%, showing how resilient the Indian market is, and that gives confidence to investors, said fund managers. "We are likely to see DIIs holding a larger share until foreign investors decisively come back, which is possible only when US 10-year GSec yields fall to 3.5% levels," said Amit Jain, cofounder of Ashika Global Family Office Services. "The country has delivered a consistent 7% CAGR over the past 25 years, an exceptional record globally. This sustained growth creates a 'TINA' (there is no alternative) factor for investors looking for long-term opportunities."Even in NSE 500 stocks, DII ownership surpassed FPIs for the first time.