India could finally be starting to turn itself around. Now that the nation is no longer so ultra-concerned about inflation tearing apart its population, the country is aiming for some stimulus measures. The FT has reported that the nation is launching a $35 billion public sector investment program. The aim is to boost infrastructure spending as well as to purchase energy even from foreign firms. Of the $35 billion, some $7 billion was earmarked for energy in coal, natural gas, and oil.
As far as how this is impacting closed-end funds and ETFs, the moves are below and the 52-week ranges have been offered so that investors can see just how much pain has been there in the last year:
WisdomTree India Earnings (NYSE: EPI) is up 0.9% at $17.93 and the 52-week trading range is $15.44 to $25.58.
PowerShares India (NYSE: PIN) is up 0.8% at $18.30 and the 52-week range is $15.96 to $24.59.
India Fund, Inc. (NYSE: IFN) is up 0.4% at $21.46 and the 52-week trading range is $18.61 to $33.99.
Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc. (NYSE: IIF) is up 0.7% at $15.75 and the 52-week trading range is $13.59 to $24.57.
These are no ETFs nor closed-end funds but there are some key ARDs to watch:
Infosys Limited (NASDAQ: INFY) was recently butchered on its earnings and revenue warnings and shares are only up marginally at $52.00 versus a 52-week range of $46.12 to $74.52.
Tata Motors Ltd. (NYSE: TTM) is up 2.2% at $21.18 versus a 52-week range of $14.33 to $29.06.
ICICI Bank Limited (NYSE: IBN) is up only 0.25% at $30.95 against a 52-week range of $24.14 to $51.50.
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited (NYSE: SLT), which operates as a non-ferrous metals and mining company, is up 1% at $8.67 versus a 52-week range of $6.64 to $16.60.
$35 billion might not sound like much when you consider the U.S.-sized stimulus packages and when you consider that India has almost 1.2 billion people versus about 310 million in the U.S. The 2010 GDP on a purchasing power parity was put at about $4.06 trillion and that comes to only about $3,500 in GDP per capita.
$35 billion matters, even if it is going to take more to jumpstart the economy after months and months of tightening and restive monetary measures as the nation fought inflation at the expense of growth.
JON C. OGG
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