Saltydog Investor considers how key stock markets performed in June, and explains that he’s closely monitoring the performance of a sector in a rich vein of form

 
Last week, the two leading Indian stock market indices set new record highs.

The BSE Sensex 30 closed above 79,000 for the first time and the Nifty 50 went above 24,000.

The Sensex is the primary benchmark index of the Indian stock market, acting as a barometer for the Indian economy. Launched in 1986, it comprises 30 of the largest and most actively traded stocks on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

These companies are selected based on market capitalisation, liquidity, revenue, and industry representation. The index covers various sectors of the Indian economy, including finance, information technology, energy, consumer goods, healthcare, and more, making it a comprehensive indicator of the market’s overall performance.

The Nifty 50, introduced 10 years later, is the benchmark index of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE). It includes 50 of the largest and most liquid stocks, many of which are also included in the Sensex. With more stocks, the Nifty 50 offers a slightly more diversified view of the market than the Sensex and tends to be slightly less volatile.

Leading companies that feature in both indices include RIGD 0.00%, Tata Consultancy Services, HDB 0.61%, INFY  0.83% and IBN 0.58%

So far this year, the Sensex has risen by 9.4%, while the Nifty 50 is up 10.5%.

Although their overall progress has been impressive, both indices fell sharply at the beginning of last month. On 4 June, the Sensex went down by -5.7% and the Nifty 50 suffered a -5.9% one-day loss.

The results of the general election had just been announced and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had lost its outright parliamentary majority for the first time in 10 years. That is not what the exit polls had suggested.

The incumbent government had been very pro-business, and that was popular with investors who did not want anything to rock the boat. There was a concern that the economic recovery could be derailed.

However, Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, was able to form a coalition government and stock markets quickly recovered. The Sensex ended the month up 6.9%, while the Nifty 50 gained 6.5%.
 
We keep track of a dozen key stock market indicators. Despite a shaky start, the Sensex ended up being the best-performing one in June.
 

Stock Market Indices 2024
Index Country January February March April May June
FTSE 100 UK -1.3% 0.0% 4.2% 2.4% 1.6% -1.3%
FTSE 250 UK -1.7% -1.6% 4.4% 0.4% 3.8% -2.1%
Dow Jones Ind Ave US 1.2% 2.2% 2.1% -5.0% 2.3% 1.1%
S&P 500 US 1.6% 5.2% 3.1% -4.2% 4.8% 3.5%
NASDAQ US 1.0% 6.1% 1.8% -4.4% 6.9% 6.0%
DAX Germany 0.9% 4.6% 4.6% -3.0% 3.2% -1.4%
CAC40 France 1.5% 3.5% 3.5% -2.7% 0.1% -6.4%
Nikkei 225 Japan 8.4% 7.9% 3.1% -4.9% 0.2% 2.8%
Hang Seng Hong Kong -9.2% 6.6% 0.2% 7.4% 1.8% -2.0%
Shanghai Composite China -6.3% 8.1% 0.9% 2.1% -0.6% -3.9%
Sensex India -0.7% 1.0% 1.6% 1.1% -0.7% 6.9%
Ibovespa Brazil -4.8% 1.0% -0.7% -1.7% -3.0% 1.5%

 

Data source: Morningstar. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

This was also reflected in our latest sector analysis.
 
Most of the sectors we regularly report on went up in June, but there were some significant exceptions. The three UK equity sectors went down. UK All companies fell by 1.1%, UK Equity Income lost 1.2%, and UK Smaller Companies finished the month down 1.7%.

The European sectors also went down, as did North American Smaller Companies, and China/Greater China. However, the Latin America sector suffered the biggest loss, falling by 5.7%.

On a more positive note, the North America sector went up by 3.6%, as did Global Emerging Markets. Asia-Pacific excluding Japan rose by 4.1% and Technology & Technology Innovations made 6.4%.

The India/Indian Subcontinent sector beat them all, rising by 8.0%.
 

 

Data source: Morningstar. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

 
In our regular weekly analysis, we track four funds from the India/Indian Subcontinent sector.
 

1-month return (%) 3-month return (%) 6-month return (%) 12-month return (%)
Jupiter India I Acc 4.5 7.4 12.3 53.0
Liontrust India C Acc 7.4 9.1 22.9 37.7
Stewart Investors Indian Subcontinent Sustnby 11.1 14.9 18.8 24.5
GS India Equity 9.2 12.3 17.4 36.4

 

Data source: Morningstar. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

 
As you can see, the Jupiter fund has done the best over the past year. This is a fund that we’ve held in our demonstration portfolios since the end of last August and we have been very happy with its performance.

It has had a couple of hiccups along the way, the most recent being at the beginning of June, but it has recovered and gone on to new all-time highs.
 

 

Data source: Morningstar. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

 
In the past six months, the other three funds have started to catch up and the Stewart Investor India Subcontinent fund had a particularly strong June, gaining 11.1%.

We have resisted switching funds for the time being but are monitoring all four very closely.
 
For more information about Saltydog, or to take the two-month free trial, go to www.saltydoginvestor.com



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