financetom
Economy
financetom
/
Economy
/
India Inc earnings disappoint, analysts warn of gloomy festive season
News World Market Environment Technology Personal Finance Politics Retail Business Economy Cryptocurrency Forex Stocks Market Commodities
India Inc earnings disappoint, analysts warn of gloomy festive season
Aug 6, 2019 7:04 AM

India Inc has turned in its most disappointing quarterly numbers in at least three years and analysts warn hopes for any festive season cheer are likely to be dashed by a slowing economy.

More than 60 percent of 125 firms that have reported so far, and are tracked by analysts, missed profit forecasts for the June quarter, the most since at least 2016, Refinitiv data shows.

India’s biggest lenders and automakers have all sounded warning bells over the slower growth in demand and consumption.

“It’s going to be a gloomy Diwali. Things are not going to change immediately in the next two or three months,” said Umesh Mehta, head of research at Samco Securities.

The Indian festive season, which starts in September and runs through the end of the year, is the biggest sales season for companies. It typically peaks around Diwali, or the festival of lights, in October.

But this time, the outlook for the period is subdued after India’s economy grew at the slowest pace in more than four years in the January-March quarter. An erratic monsoon, high rates of unemployment and a liquidity crisis in the shadow banking sector have added to the uncertainty.

“Consumers are currently postponing their purchases because of the general slowdown,” said Neeraj Dewan, director, Quantum Securities.

Consumer goods giant Hindustan Unilever (HLL.NS) has warned demand will “remain subdued given macroeconomic conditions”.

The benchmark Nifty index.NSEI has dropped more than 10 percent since hitting an all-time high in early June and is the fourth-worst performer among its major Asian peers so far this year.

“The growth engine is slowing down, which is why we are seeing a sell-off,” Samco’s Mehta said.

Automakers have been among the worst hit by the slump in demand, with monthly auto sales in India down 17-20 percent since April. Preliminary data shows overall car sales in the country may have dropped as much as 30 percent in July. Tata Motors (TAMO.NS), India’s top automaker by revenue, posted a bigger-than-expected loss for the June quarter. Rival Maruti Suzuki (MRTI.NS), which managed to top estimates aided by cost cuts, saw an 18 percent drop in sales.

Gopal Mahadevan, finance head at truck maker Ashok Leyland (ASOK.NS), has said the lower auto sales have “more to do with the general economic condition” and not a demand problem.

Among the few bright spots for the quarter was Johnny Walker and Smirnoff maker Diageo, which reported an 8 percent rise in sales in India, led by strong demand for scotch. Its subsidiary, United Spirits , posted a near 10 percent rise in sales.

“The lipstick effect, which indicates consumers spend more on low-ticket luxury and instant gratification items during a crisis, could be at play here,” said Gnanasundaram Saminathan, a research analyst at Spark Capital Advisors.

Comments
Welcome to financetom comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Related Articles >
US Dollar Rises Early Thursday Ahead of Jobless Claims, Trade, Housing Starts Data
US Dollar Rises Early Thursday Ahead of Jobless Claims, Trade, Housing Starts Data
Mar 12, 2026
07:37 AM EDT, 03/12/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The US dollar rose against its major trading partners early Thursday, except for a decline versus the yen, ahead of the release of weekly jobless claims and trade and housing starts data for January, all at 8:30 am ET. Weekly natural gas stocks inventory data are due to be released at 10:30 am...
XRP steadies near $1.38 as Bollinger squeeze hints at breakout before CPI
XRP steadies near $1.38 as Bollinger squeeze hints at breakout before CPI
Mar 12, 2026
XRP traded quietly near $1.38 as volatility compressed across crypto markets, with traders positioning ahead of U.S. inflation data that could trigger the next directional move. News BackgroundXRP has entered a period of consolidation as broader crypto markets adopt a cautious tone ahead of key macroeconomic data. Investors are closely watching the upcoming U.S. Consumer Price Index release, which could...
Goldman Sachs pushes back Fed rate cut forecast amid Mideast conflict
Goldman Sachs pushes back Fed rate cut forecast amid Mideast conflict
Mar 11, 2026
March 12 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs ( GS ) has delayed its forecast for U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts, and now expects quarter-point reductions in September and December, citing rising inflation risks linked to the Middle East conflict. The U.S. bank had earlier projected rate cuts beginning in June, followed by another reduction in September. A June start now looks...
US weekly jobless claims edge down
US weekly jobless claims edge down
Mar 12, 2026
WASHINGTON, March 12 (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits fell last week, which could help to assuage fears of a labor market deterioration after an unexpected decline in employment in February. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 213,000 for the week ended March 7, the Labor Department said...
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.financetom.com All Rights Reserved