4 August 2017
India Capital Growth Fund Limited (the "Company" or "ICGF")
Net Asset Value Statement at 31 July 2017
Net Asset Value
The Company announces its Net Asset Value per share as at 31 July 2017 was 114.44 pence.
In July the Net Asset Value (NAV) was up 3.5% in Sterling terms, whilst the BSE Mid Cap TR Index was up 5.5%, delivering an under performance against the notional benchmark of 2.0%. In local currency terms, the NAV was up 3.3% for the month.
Portfolio update
Positive attribution to the portfolio's performance came from Yes Bank (up 23.6%), Skipper (up 14.5%), Indusind Bank (up 11.3%) and City Union Bank (up 9.7%). Negative attribution came from NIIT Technologies (down 10.7%), PI Industries (down 8.6%) and JK Lakshmi Cement (down 5.6%).
Market and economic update
India's equity markets continue to rise on the back of a smoother than expected transition to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) introduced on 1 July, record low CPI inflation, and a good monsoon to date. In the month the BSE Sensex Index was up 5.2%, whilst the BSE Mid Cap TR Index was up 5.3%, both in INR terms. Foreign Institutions were net buyers (US$389m for the month) as were Domestic Institutions (US$742m for the month). INR appreciated 0.6% against USD and 0.1% against GBP in July.
After a nine month pause, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a 25 basis points cut in the policy rate to 6% following a sharp fall in CPI inflation to 1.5% in June, mainly led by a fall in food prices. Going forward RBI maintains a neutral stance as it expects inflation to move up in the range of 3.5% - 4.5% by the second half of FY18, as the base effect fades and assuming the States implement salary and allowance increases similar to those of the Central Government.
GST implementation has led to a slowdown in the manufacturing sector as businesses migrate to GST; the Manufacturing PMI Index contracted from 50.9 in June to 47.9 in July. However this downturn is expected to be temporary based upon manufacturers' expectations about future production. This is also supported by good progress in GST implementation on the ground. The Government has stated that 1.3 million new tax payers have signed up under the GST system indicating the tax base is set to widen significantly by the end of the year.
Indian companies began reporting June 17 quarter results largely in line with expectations. Revenue for most manufacturing companies, led by Consumer Staples and Consumer Discretionary, have been hit due to destocking by intermediaries ahead of GST. Private sector banks reported healthy loan growth although asset quality pressures continue. IT companies continue to report weak earnings whilst cement companies reported healthy earnings growth.
Portfolio analysis by sector as at 31 July 2017 |
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Sector |
No. of Companies |
% of Portfolio |
Financials |
8 |
28.8% |
Materials |
9 |
20.6% |
Consumer Discretionary |
6 |
15.9% |
Consumer Staples |
5 |
10.5% |
Industrials |
4 |
9.0% |
IT |
2 |
5.2% |
Real Estate |
2 |
3.6% |
Healthcare |
2 |
3.5% |
Total Equity Investment |
38 |
97.1% |
Net Cash |
|
2.9% |
Total Portfolio |
38 |
100.0% |
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Top 20 holdings as at 31 July 2017 |
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Holding |
Sector |
% of Portfolio |
Dewan Housing |
Financials |
5.7% |
Federal Bank |
Financials |
5.3% |
Yes Bank |
Financials |
5.0% |
Motherson Sumi Systems |
Consumer Discretionary |
4.4% |
Jyothy Laboratories |
Consumer Staples |
3.6% |
Kajaria Ceramics |
Industrials |
3.4% |
City Union Bank |
Financials |
3.4% |
Ramkrishna Forgings |
Materials |
3.4% |
Indusind Bank |
Financials |
3.4% |
Sobha Developers |
Real Estate |
3.3% |
NIIT Technologies |
IT |
2.9% |
Skipper |
Materials |
2.8% |
Welspun India |
Consumer Discretionary |
2.8% |
Sagar Cements |
Materials |
2.6% |
The Ramco Cements |
Materials |
2.6% |
Exide Industries |
Consumer Discretionary |
2.4% |
Max Financial Services |
Financials |
2.4% |
PI Industries |
Materials |
2.4% |
Finolex Cables |
Industrials |
2.4% |
Tech Mahindra |
IT |
2.3% |
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Portfolio analysis by market capitalisation size as 31 July 2017 |
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Market capitalisation size |
No. of Companies |
% of Portfolio |
Small Cap (M/Cap < US$2bn) |
23 |
51.6% |
Mid Cap (US$2bn < M/Cap < US$7bn) |
11 |
31.0% |
Large Cap (M/Cap > US$7bn) |
4 |
14.5% |
Total Equity Investment |
38 |
97.1% |
Net Cash |
|
2.9% |
Total Portfolio |
38 |
100.0% |