Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 6: At a time when global investors are treading cautiously, India’s equity market stands out as a promising opportunity, said Ben Powell, Chief Investment Strategist for the Middle East and Asia-Pacific at BlackRock.

“India has an important part to play in portfolios going forward,” Powell remarked, emphasizing that the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain strong despite challenges from global trade dynamics.

He noted that while India faced headwinds due to U.S. trade movements in recent quarters, its economic resilience offers significant potential for investors. “There seems to be a general lack of enthusiasm from global investors, and I think that presents opportunities for us to pick our spots,” he said.

Powell added that India’s macro environment remains stable, supported by low inflation and the Reserve Bank of India’s scope for further rate cuts. “Inflation is low, giving the RBI room for easing. That’s a good starting point for Indian equities to perform better in the coming quarters,” he said.

Speaking amid uncertainty over the U.S. government shutdown, Powell pointed out that Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven “megaforces” continue to provide a tailwind for markets. He also advised investors to consider hard assets such as copper, given rising energy demands from AI and electrification trends.

Highlighting portfolio diversification, Powell said that commodities like gold and Bitcoin—now trading around the $125,000 mark—can serve as effective hedges against market volatility. “Having a 2% exposure to Bitcoin, for example, could make sense. The same goes for gold,” he added.