> Can Swiss bank money solve the FX problem? (MERRILL LYNCH)

■ Bottom line: No immediate impact; RBI to hold Rs58-62/USD
Can unearthing "black" money Indians have allegedly stashed away in Swiss banks help the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raise FX reserves? We do not see any immediate FX impact given the legal issues involved, although the Supreme Court has yesterday asked the government to pass on information of Indians holding Swiss bank accounts to it today. Reports place Indians' deposits in Swiss accounts in an astonishingly wide range of US$2bn-2trn. In this report, we have worked with
an estimate of capital flight of about US$200bn based on a recent research study. If even half of this is unearthed, it could add US$30-35bn (three to four months of current import cover) to FX reserves over time, if taxed at, say, 30-35%. In the meanwhile, we calculate that the RBI will need to buy US$30-35bn to maintain eight-month import cover by March 2016. On balance, we continue to expect it to hold Rs58-62/USD assuming that the EURUSD remains around current levels. Our
Asia FX strategist, Adarsh Sinha, forecasts Rs61/USD in December.

■ Government passes Swiss a/c holder names to Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has yesterday ordered the government to pass on information of Indians holding Swiss bank accounts to it today. Finance minister Jaitley immediately told the media that the government will comply with the Supreme Court's directive. Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi also said that a list of 600-odd names in a sealed envelope will be handed over to the Supreme Court. This has just been done. The Supreme Court has asked the Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Justice (retd) Shah, to submit a report by November 30.

The story so far: The Supreme Court order is the culmination of a March 2009 public interest litigation filed by leading lawyer Ram Jethmalani seeking judicial intervention to bring back Rs700bn (US$11bn) of black money allegedly stashed away in foreign banks by Indians. It had ordered the institution of a SIT to probe black money in July 2011. The previous UPA government had submitted names of 26 Indians having accounts in in a Lichenstien, bank, of which eight were found legitimate. In May 2014, the just-elected Modi government paved the way for the SIT. In October, it committed to reveal all names against whom prosecution is launched but endorsed the previous UPA's stand that Swiss confidentiality clauses prevented it from making all names public. On Monday, the government disclosed names of three such account holders.

Estimates vary between US$2bn-2trn
Media reports place Indians' deposits in Swiss accounts in an astonishingly wide range of US$2bn-2trn. The Swiss National Bank has itself placed funds owned by Indians and entities at CHF1.95bn. This does not include the money Indians may hold in other names. In a recent study, Raghbendra Jha and Duc Nguyen Truong, of Australian National University, estimated total capital flight at US$186+bn during 1998-2012.

Unearthing capital flight can add US$30bn to FX reserves
We estimate that the government can add US$30-35bn to FX reserves, over time, if it is able to unearth some of Indians' "black money" abroad. In this report, we have worked with an estimate of US$200bn based on Prof Jha's estimate of capital flight. If even half of this is unearthed and taxed at 30-35%, this could add three to four months of current import cover to FX reserves, over time, when import cover is running low at 8.3 months

■ Tax amnesty scheme unlikely for Swiss bank funds
The Modi government is unlikely to announce a tax amnesty scheme to bring back Indians' "black" money stashed in Swiss banks based on a statement by Nirmala Sitharaman, minister of state for finance, in Parliament. In our view, VDIS schemes discriminate against the honest tax payer, although they allow the government to quickly raise revenue. At the same time, the government proposes to re-launch the Kisan Vikas Patra, which has had relatively relaxed know-your-customer norms but no fiscal incentives in the past.

We fully agree with Nirmala Sitharaman, when she tells Parliament that "...the experience shows when you bring in VDIS (Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme), it discriminates against genuine taxpayers. Those of you who pay taxes are disincentivised...it goes against honest taxpayers... It may not be a conducive path for recovering more taxes..."

India has announced several amnesty schemes to allow citizens to disclose their "black" money after paying the prevailing income tax. The 1997 VDIS scheme taxed this “black” money at 30% for individuals and 35% for corporates.

  RISH TRADER

>INR: An exciting range (MERRILL LYNCH)

 ► USD/INR: A range trade with opportunities
We continue to expect USD/INR to maintain a 58-62 range but believe there will be  opportunities to accumulate carry despite the risks from a stronger USD. Our analysis suggests positioning is less extreme, hedging activity is INR-supportive and carry remains extremely attractive, particularly for short EUR/INR. We expect  USD/INR to end the year at 61 (previously 60) despite a strong USD, and revise our end-2015 forecast to 60 (from 64) to factor in a stronger balance of payments (BoP) outlook.

 ► RBI’s range of tolerance: Rs58-62/USD
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) range of tolerance for USD/INR and its intention to build reserves will be the single-biggest driver of the exchange rate over the forecast horizon, in our view. We expect it to buy US$35-40bn by March 2016 to maintain 8-month import cover. We see the 58-62 range breaking sustainably under  two scenarios: 1) sufficient FX reserves, (> 10 months import cover) which looks unlikely until 2016; or, 2) a much stronger USD than even we (as USD bulls) expect.

 ► Two medium-term positives
We expect the BoP to be INR-supportive, albeit highly dependent upon oil and gold prices. Our estimates place India’s current account deficit at 1.7% of GDP in FY15 and basic BoP deficit at roughly 1% of GDP by FY16, consistent with a stronger level of the INR. We also believe the RBI will maintain its inflation credibility with a 
likely peak in inflation reducing the need for a nominal depreciation ofthe INR. This should allow the RBI to cut rates 75bp in 2015 and encourage portfolio inflows.

 ► Risks from the stronger US Dollar
A stronger USD is a clear downside risk for the INR but our estimates suggest the sensitivity to the DXY index has fallen. While the RBI is unlikely to fight a much stronger USD, it would take sizeable appreciation to move USD/INR sustainably above 62. Moreover, FII portfolio inflows – that are more skewed towards equity than bonds – should react favorably to any RBI rate cuts and thereby be less vulnerable to a narrowing rate differential if the Fed begins hiking in June 2015 (asour US economists expect).

RISH TRADER

>HERO MOTO CORP LIMITED: Launching a new model in 3Q post recent launch of Splendor Racer, a variant of Xtreme & Production at Nemrana plant started

Core business earnings in line with estimates; exports all set to pick up

Hero MotoCorp (HMCL IN) adjusted operational earnings came broadly in line with our estimate of INR7bn, though reported earnings at INR7.6bn was higher led by a one-off other income to the tune of INR0.68bn. Blended realisation was flat QoQ and up 2% YoY with mix broadly remaining the same leading to a revenue growth of 21% YoY at INR69bn, broadly in line with estimates. EBITDA
margin at 13.5% too was in line with estimates and flat QoQ despite higher staff costs on account of commencement of production at Nemrana plant from July led by slight improvement in gross margin QoQ. We believe with the excise duty disparity in Hardwar plant impacting margin by ~130bps getting away from equation possibly from 4QFY15 onwards along with rising scale and rising impact
of internal cost cutting strategy, we expect margin to inch up a notch towards 14-14.5% in FY16e. With scooter capacity set to ramp up to 100k units by January 2015 and to 150k by mid-FY16 from 75k now, we believe attaining the short term target of 250k exports would get easier. First time motorcycle buyers have come back in the scheme of things after a long break in recent months boosting overall industry demand along with HMCL maintaining share around 54%. With couple of new launches in the scooter portfolio along with continuous launch of variants across the motor cycle portfolio on and above higher exports, we are confident of a 12% volume CAGR in FY14-16e resulting in a volume of 7.85mn in FY16e. We are maintaining our volume and margin estimates for FY16e resulting in a robust earnings CAGR of 32% in FY14-16e.

Conference call highlights
􀂄 Festive season demand going on pretty strong and HMCL is confident to close festive season with 10-11% growth this year. With inventory being pretty much in control amid high competitive intensity we believe HMCL has done a commendable job of maintaining market share despite a high base.

􀂄 Launched 2 new variants in Maestro, both have seen good response from the market. Have 75k unit scooter capacity currently and will take capacity to 100k by January 2015 and plan to increase to 150k by mid-FY16. Planning a couple of new scooter launches in the next one year with focus towards the 125cc segment.

􀂄 Target of exports at 250k unit in FY15 with higher scooter capacity helping to boost exports soon. Have vision to export to 50 countries by 2018 from 20 markets presently. Got a large order of 45k unit of scooters in export markets and will be executed by November only.

􀂄 Launching a new model in 3Q post recent launch of Splendor Racer, a variant of Xtreme.

􀂄 Production at Nemrana plant started July onwards and is expected to ramp up production this quarter itself with peak capacity of 1.2mn.

Valuation
We maintain our Buy on HMCL with a price target of INR3,151 based on 18x FY16e core EPS of INR161 and INR255/share of cash and equivalents. We believe interim dividend of INR30/ share this quarter along with visibility of annualized payout of 55-60% signifying a FY16e DPS of ~INR100, implies HMCL is trading at an attractive dividend yield of ~3-4%.

RISH TRADER

>Market Outlook (MICROSEC)

Indian market is likely to remain volatile due to Global market volatility which is led by fears of Global Economic slowdown led by Europe and China. Election results slated to be announced on Oct 19 in two key states will further decide Governments strength in framing bold policies.

There are many low hanging fruits like insurance bill which need to be cleared in the winter session of parliament. Lower CPI and WPI may create conducive environment for RBI to cut interest rates by end of the CY14 or early next year. Geopolitical issues, China slowdown, weakness in global markets and US Fed may indicate hiking rates sooner will prompt some investors to remain cautious. Indian
PM visit to US was successful in many ways if one takes a macro view and specially strengthening the defense sector by inviting manufacturing in India to US INC. Earning season has started which would emphasize on stock specifics according to the performance. Markets in the past has performed on beaten down stock valuation but henceforth, earnings accretion would bring new run in markets in
few upcoming quarters rather than P/E expansion. Favorable outcome on assembly results towards Central ruling party would enthuse markets in its ability to clear key bills in upper house of parliament.

Sharp decline in input prices across industries like crude oil, rubber, cotton yarn, copper will improve fundamentals across OMC’s, Auto-ancilliaries, Textiles and Consumer durable. These sectors may continue to outperform in Oct 2014. Nifty EPS(E) for CY15 is currently at ~571, Bloomberg consensus. On that basis we believe Nifty is likely to trade 13.66-14.18x CY15(E) earnings which makes a range of ~7800-8100 for October 2014. Engineers India, Dredging Corp, Max India,
Finolex Cable, CCL Product, Crompton Gr, IDFC, Tide Water, IL&FS Transportation, Blue Star, UPL Ltd., Bharat Electronics, Archies Ltd, Exide Ind, Lloyds Electric, M&M, L&T, Tata Motors, TCS, INFY, RIL, SBI, ONGC may remain strong.


RISH TRADER