Fisher Capital Management: Market Overview First Quarter: India

India is in a sweet spot. The central governmentafter having increased 9.3% to $14.61 billion in
budget which set the tone for reducing fiscal deficitDecember. Imports increased 35.5% in January to
and an unexpected increase in the policy rate to rein in$24.70 billion while oil imports rose by 56% to $7.05
inflation has convinced the markets and economistsbillion. Non-oil imports, a barometer of investment
that India is on its way to having a robust economicactivity, grew 28.8% to $17.65 billion.
growth. Industrial output also continued to grow at a 
fast pace in January as companies produced moreOn the back of robust economic numbers and policy
cars and cement. In the fiscal year 2011 that ends inpronouncements, the rating agency Standard &
March 2011, GDP growth of 8.5% is achievable.Poor's raised its rating outlook to stable, expecting the
Long-term predictions for the southwest monsoonsfiscal situation to recover and growth to remain strong
are expected to be normal, giving a boostto agriculturalin the coming years. The government's commitment to
production and domestic demand.follow the recommendations of the 13th Finance
 Commission, as well as its move to reduce fertilizer
Inflation in India has been surging, driven by a low basesubsidies and raise domestic fuel prices were taken as
and high food prices as the weakest monsoon rains inpositive indicators. The country's external position
37 years last year hurt farm output. Inflation running atcontinues to be in a comfortable zone.
8.5% may have peaked and it is expected to ease by 
April as the winter-sown crop comes to market. TheIt is unlikely that India will benefit from the Google-China
year-on-year inflation rate for food articles wasspat as the Indian government will not provide the kind
16.22% in the week ending March 13, far above theof benefits China extends to the manufacturing sector
comfortable zone for the central bank and thein China. But some relocation is likely to emerge. For
government. In order to manage the inflationaryexample, American companies GoDaddy and Dell
expectations, the central bank increased overnighthave threatened to pull out of China and relocate
lending and borrowing rates by 0.25 percentages pointthemselves in India.
each, making it one of the first major central banks to 
raise rates. The central bank further announced that itFisher Capital Management Korea is a leading global
would continue to roll back its loose monetary policy tofinancial institution holding extensive relationships with
manage prices, as the country can't have sustainedfinancial institutions, institutional investors and
strong growth with high inflation.corporations across the world.
We expect a 0.25-percentage-point rate hike inAs a full service company Fisher Capital Management
mid-April and another increase of one percentageKorea provides a full range of investment banking
point through March 2011.services including advanced risk management,
 corporate strategy and structure, plus raising capital
Fisher Capital Management Korea News: The reboundthrough debt and equity markets. With this as our
in industrial activity also saw a surge in India's exportsbackbone we continue to provide a client service
for the third month running in January. Exports insecond to none.
January rose 11.5% from a year earlier to $14.34 billion,