The Indian economy is in a dangerous position today and the situation can potentially spiral out of control. Here's how.
A current account deficit occurs when a country is importing more goods and services than it is exporting (if the reverse was true, it would be in a surplus). India's current account deficit has exploded 1125 per cent since 2007, going from $8 billion to $90 billion. In other words, India is importing $90 billion more than it is exporting.
However, in 2007, India had $300 billion in foreign exchange reserves. It could cover its current account deficit 37.5 times over. Currently, India's foreign exchange reserves have gone down to $275 billion: it can only cover its current account deficit 3 times.
India's current account deficit has grown steadily throughout the past 5 years: it did not just balloon up overnight. Since many of the countries that trade with India only accept foreign currencies in return (mainly the greenback), it would seem obvious for India to continuously maintain a growing stockpile of foreign reserves through the years; alas, India did not do that. It's no wonder that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tried to reassure the country that unlike 1991 when "the country only had foreign exchange reserves for 15 days of imports.... now we have reserves for seven months". 7 months before we run out of reserves? That hardly sounds reassuring.
Here is where the situation can begin to sound grave. The US economy, 5 years post the 2008 financial crisis, is starting to make an economic emergence. When a country's economy is growing, interest rates start to go up, and the country starts printing less money than required. We are now sitting on a dangerous situation where, not only is the rupee depreciating heavily against the dollar, but the supply of dollars is likely to shrink in the coming months. We emphasized the need for US dollars in order to keep the currency account deficit in check. This puts an additional burden on the rupee.
Furthermore, two additional factors will be at play here. Firstly, the push in interest rates in the United States and overseas creates higher incentives for international investors to invest abroad versus India. Already, the impact is being felt. Since March of this year, foreign exchange reserves have already dropped by $14 billion due to investors opting to invest in the US and other countries versus India.
Secondly, it is important to note that a current account deficit cannot be labeled as "bad" just because it is not a current account surplus. After all, most developed countries run high current account deficits. A high current account deficit can be required if a country is growing and requires imports to fuel growth. A way to measure the health of a current account deficit is to compare it to the country's GDP. Academic studies suggest that a current account deficit which is 2.5 per cent of a country's GDP is sustainable.
What makes India's situation dangerous is that it is currently at almost 5 per cent of its GDP. Furthermore, economists polled around the world are expecting India's GDP to drop even further this fiscal year.
What does this all mean? Ultimately, the faith the marketplace places on its economy is what gives it reassurance. Sentiments run the market. What are the current signs pointing to?
1. Rupee weakness
Further weakening of the rupee due to a lower supply of dollars and higher interest rates abroad.
2. GDP growth
Economists predicting a lower GDP for the current fiscal year, a disastrous sign since we just witnessed a GDP drop from 6.2% to 5% from the last fiscal year to the current fiscal year.
3. Current account deficit
A further rise in India's current account deficit.
4. Foreign reserves
The government signaling that within months it might run out of foreign reserves.
5. Short-term debt
$170 billion in short-term debt to pay, while in 2008 it was just $80 billion.
6. FII investment
From May to August 2013, FII investments in India having gone down by $2 billion.
7. Elections
Both the private and public sectors staying clear on investment strategies until next year's elections.
When taking all of this into account, it will require a heroic effort by the newly appointed RBI governor, Raghuram Rajan, to prevent a currency crisis from unfolding.
Source: NDTV Profit
By: Raghu Kumar
A current account deficit occurs when a country is importing more goods and services than it is exporting (if the reverse was true, it would be in a surplus). India's current account deficit has exploded 1125 per cent since 2007, going from $8 billion to $90 billion. In other words, India is importing $90 billion more than it is exporting.
However, in 2007, India had $300 billion in foreign exchange reserves. It could cover its current account deficit 37.5 times over. Currently, India's foreign exchange reserves have gone down to $275 billion: it can only cover its current account deficit 3 times.
India's current account deficit has grown steadily throughout the past 5 years: it did not just balloon up overnight. Since many of the countries that trade with India only accept foreign currencies in return (mainly the greenback), it would seem obvious for India to continuously maintain a growing stockpile of foreign reserves through the years; alas, India did not do that. It's no wonder that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tried to reassure the country that unlike 1991 when "the country only had foreign exchange reserves for 15 days of imports.... now we have reserves for seven months". 7 months before we run out of reserves? That hardly sounds reassuring.
Here is where the situation can begin to sound grave. The US economy, 5 years post the 2008 financial crisis, is starting to make an economic emergence. When a country's economy is growing, interest rates start to go up, and the country starts printing less money than required. We are now sitting on a dangerous situation where, not only is the rupee depreciating heavily against the dollar, but the supply of dollars is likely to shrink in the coming months. We emphasized the need for US dollars in order to keep the currency account deficit in check. This puts an additional burden on the rupee.
Furthermore, two additional factors will be at play here. Firstly, the push in interest rates in the United States and overseas creates higher incentives for international investors to invest abroad versus India. Already, the impact is being felt. Since March of this year, foreign exchange reserves have already dropped by $14 billion due to investors opting to invest in the US and other countries versus India.
Secondly, it is important to note that a current account deficit cannot be labeled as "bad" just because it is not a current account surplus. After all, most developed countries run high current account deficits. A high current account deficit can be required if a country is growing and requires imports to fuel growth. A way to measure the health of a current account deficit is to compare it to the country's GDP. Academic studies suggest that a current account deficit which is 2.5 per cent of a country's GDP is sustainable.
What makes India's situation dangerous is that it is currently at almost 5 per cent of its GDP. Furthermore, economists polled around the world are expecting India's GDP to drop even further this fiscal year.
What does this all mean? Ultimately, the faith the marketplace places on its economy is what gives it reassurance. Sentiments run the market. What are the current signs pointing to?
1. Rupee weakness
Further weakening of the rupee due to a lower supply of dollars and higher interest rates abroad.
2. GDP growth
Economists predicting a lower GDP for the current fiscal year, a disastrous sign since we just witnessed a GDP drop from 6.2% to 5% from the last fiscal year to the current fiscal year.
3. Current account deficit
A further rise in India's current account deficit.
4. Foreign reserves
The government signaling that within months it might run out of foreign reserves.
5. Short-term debt
$170 billion in short-term debt to pay, while in 2008 it was just $80 billion.
6. FII investment
From May to August 2013, FII investments in India having gone down by $2 billion.
7. Elections
Both the private and public sectors staying clear on investment strategies until next year's elections.
When taking all of this into account, it will require a heroic effort by the newly appointed RBI governor, Raghuram Rajan, to prevent a currency crisis from unfolding.
Source: NDTV Profit
By: Raghu Kumar
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