ET Intelligence Group: The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) draft norms aimed at curbing mis-selling of financial products could weigh more heavily on the private sector banks given their higher reliance on insurance income. According to the data collated by ETIG from annual reports, the share of insurance income in the other income for the top five private sector banks rose to 10% in FY25 from 8.2% in FY19 at the aggregate level. It was at 7.5% in FY24. For the top five public sector (PSU) banks, it remained under 4% during the period under observation. Among the 10 sample banks, ICICI Bank reported the sharpest decline of 13.9 percentage points in the share to 1.6% between FY19 and FY25. It had the lowest share of insurance income in the sample amid its focus on improving efficiency of the core banking operations. For other private banks, the share was between 6% and 16% while PSU banks’ share was 2-4.5% in FY25.

Income from insurance products sold by the 10 sample banks increased two-and-a-half times to ₹16,747 crore in FY25 from ₹6,381 crore in FY19. It increased by 31% year-on-year from ₹12,783 crore in FY24.

“The RBI has proposed that obtaining customer consent is not enough, and that banks must additionally ensure the product is appropriate and suitable for the customer. This will make banks cautious in selling third party products like mutual funds and insurance policies,” a head of retail banking of a private bank told ET.

RBI issued draft norms on February 11 to curb the mis-selling of financial products. The draft rules propose that if mis-selling is established, banks must refund the entire amount paid by the customer and provide additional compensation for any financial loss.
Banks have long linked employee incentives and sales targets to the sale of third-party products such as insurance policies, mutual funds and other financial instruments to increase fee income. Insurance and mutual fund companies also depend on banks for distribution. This may result in sales of unsuitable or unwanted products.

Bancassurance is a well-established model in the financial sector in which banks and insurance companies join hands to sell insurance products to customers.

With the RBI signalling a pause after delivering a cumulative 125 bps rate cut and maintaining a status quo stance in its latest policy, the easy money phase now appears to be behind us.

Yet, even as further rate cuts look unlikely, elevated bond yields and widened term spreads are creating selective tactical opportunities—particularly at the longer end of the curve.

Speaking to Kshitij Anand of ETMarkets, Vikas Garg, Head – Fixed Income at Invesco Mutual Fund, explains why real yields remain compelling despite record borrowing, how supply dynamics are shaping the yield curve, and what signals investors should watch for before taking exposure to long-duration funds.

He also outlines where corporate bonds, sovereigns and short-duration strategies fit into portfolios in the current macro environment. Edited Excerpts –
Q) Did the RBI policy outcome at this point largely meet expectations post Budget?

A) The MPC delivered a well-balanced policy, maintaining the status quo on both rates and stance, broadly in line with market expectations.
The RBI under Governor Malhotra has continued to emphasize action over guidance, having already delivered a cumulative 125 bps rate cut alongside a series of pre-emptive liquidity measures to ensure adequate system liquidity.Importantly, this policy came against the backdrop of clarity on two key variables fiscal policy and the India-US trade framework.

While the Governor reiterated a pre-emptive approach to liquidity management, the absence of specific announcements on additional liquidity measures disappointed the market.

Q) Do you think India is entering a structurally stronger phase compared to the past few years?

A) Yes, India continues to stand out as the fastest-growing major economy, well contained inflation, sound credit environment and a favorable demographic profile. This is further supported by credible fiscal and monetary policymaking, along with political stability.

Together, these factors reinforce confidence that the current strong macroeconomic backdrop is not cyclical alone, but has the potential to be sustained.

Even as financial markets are largely driven by domestic factors, global volatility can also impact the domestic markets especially when INR comes under pressure.

Q) If growth accelerates in the second half, could rising inflation alter the RBI’s rate trajectory?

A) While India is expected to remain the fastest-growing major economy in the coming financial year, the growth trajectory is still broadly aligned with potential growth and therefore not inherently inflationary.

Headline inflation this year has been at record lows, even with elevated prices of precious metals, while core inflation excluding these components remains well below the RBI’s 4% target.

Additionally, the forthcoming revision of the CPI basket where food weights are expected to decline could further moderate volatility.

Against this backdrop, inflation does not appear to be at levels that would cause near-term discomfort for the RBI. The key risk to this view remains the monsoon, given the inflation’s sensitivity to agricultural outcomes.

Q) How meaningful could potential inclusion in Bloomberg bond indices be for Indian bonds?

A) Such inclusion would be very meaningful. FY27 will see a record high gross supply of sovereign and SDL securities which will test the market appetite, especially in the backdrop of no more rate cuts going forward.

With higher gross and net borrowing outlined in the upcoming fiscal year’s Budget, the entry of a large and stable new investor base through index inclusion would provide meaningful relief to the yield curve.

Q) Given lower inflation and strong growth, what duration strategy would you recommend for investors today?

A) At present, the yield curve appears stretched, and concerns around demand–supply dynamics persist. As a result, the curve may remain steep, particularly with continued heavy supply from both the Centre and states leading to some duration fatigue.

Current 10 yr G-Sec yield at ~6.75% gives a ~150 bps term spread over the 5.25% repo rate, such spreads were last seen during the past rate hike cycle.

With the current inflation running low at ~2% for FY26, the real yields at more than 4.75% are quite elevated, making risk-reward favorable. Even the short end yields are elevated on supply concerns.

Market sentiments have turned positive after the announcement of US-India trade agreement and we expect investor appetite to pick up at these high yields. Also, as RBI conducts more OMOs and possibly G-Sec switch operations, it will help in addressing the huge fiscal supply concerns to an extent.

Considering the risk-reward dynamics, we believe Ultra Short, Money Market and Low Duration funds provide limited volatility and high accrual.

At the same time, actively managed short-term funds and corporate bond funds with balanced exposure towards 2-4 yr corporate bonds and 5-10 yr G-Secs provide suitable opportunities for core allocation in CY2026.

Q) Is there scope for a tactical entry into long-bond investing this year, and what would signal such an opportunity?

A) Yes, as we move into the next fiscal year, there could be selective tactical opportunities at the longer end of the curve.

While the government has announced a sizeable borrowing program, it has also built buffers into the fiscal framework. Upside surprises such as higher-than-expected RBI dividends, stronger GST collections, or increased mobilization through NSSF could create windows for tactical long-duration exposure during the year.

Even though with a risk of higher volatility, one can look at Gilt funds as a tactical call given that the term spreads have jumped sharply higher.

Q) How should retail investors approach long-duration funds in the current environment?

A) Retail investors should view long-duration funds primarily as a core allocation towards the buy and hold like strategy of risk-free assets as these funds can be extremely volatile depending upon the market conditions.

At times, such long-duration funds can also be used for tactical calls to benefit from the capital gain opportunities.

At the current juncture, term spread has widened sharply due to fiscal supply overhang and one can look at long-duration funds as a tactical exposure as the term spread may compress over next few months if demand from long investors like PFs, insurance companies etc picks up towards the FY end.

Q) Would you prefer sovereign bonds, SDLs, or corporate bonds at this stage?

A) At current valuations, corporate bonds in 1 – 4 yr tenor space appear attractive, with spreads over G-Sec offering a healthy accrual opportunity.

That said, sovereign bonds continue to play an important role as a potential source of capital gains, given their sensitivity to policy and macro developments.

With several negatives already priced in and yields near the upper end of the expected range, sovereigns especially in 5-10 yr space do offer some capital appreciation potential.

Q) How do higher borrowing numbers influence your outlook for the 10-year G-sec?

A) Higher borrowing impacts both the pricing and the shape of the yield curve. We expect the curve to remain relatively steep, with the longer end experiencing continued duration fatigue, while the shorter end stays supported by the RBI’s commitment to maintaining adequate liquidity in the system.

In the current environment, we see the 10-year G-sec trading in a range of 6.65% to 6.80%

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)

After a phase of heightened volatility triggered by Budget announcements and global trade uncertainties, markets now appear to be transitioning into a more earnings- and liquidity-driven phase.

With the India–US trade deal easing tariff pressures, FII flows showing early signs of return, and corporate earnings indicating gradual stabilisation, investors are recalibrating their strategies for 2026.

In this edition of ETMarkets Smart Talk, Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Research – Wealth Management at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, shares why the small- and midcap space could remain opportunity-rich — but only for those willing to be selective.

He highlights the importance of earnings visibility, balance-sheet strength and structural growth themes over pure momentum plays, while also outlining the broader triggers that could shape market direction in the months ahead. Edited Excerpts –

Q) We have seen a rollercoaster ride in markets with wild swings post-Budget. How do you see markets in the near term?
A) Indian equities saw sharp swings through early February, with markets correcting on 1st Feb after the Budget-led STT hike triggered a sell-off, stabilising on 2nd Feb amid selective dip-buying, and then staging a powerful rebound on 3rd Feb as optimism around the India-US trade deal drove a broad-based risk-on rally and strong short covering.

With the trade uncertainty now being lifted, we believe that multiple positives will accrue in the form of 1) reversal of FII outflows, 2) INR recovering its lost ground, 3) general improvement in sentiments towards Indian equities, 4) return of confidence for FDI, and 5) retracement of India’s underperformance vs EM peers.
The US agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff on Indian imports from 25% to 18% and fully withdraw the additional 25% punitive levy linked to Indo-Russian oil trade, implying a sharp 32% point reduction in the overall tariff burden.India’s tariff rate now stands below several key Asian peers, materially enhancing the competitiveness of its exports to the US. This is likely to support market sentiment, with a multi-layered positive impact on the economy and export-facing sectors.

Following the deal announcement and clarity on the fine print, we expect markets to increasingly recognise the improving trend in corporate earnings, supported by steady upgrades and sequential growth, which should help sustain positive momentum in the near term.

Q) With the Budget, trade deal and MPC out of the way, what are the next big triggers that D-Street investors can look forward to?
A) With several key events largely behind us, markets are likely to transition into an earnings- and liquidity-driven phase. Near-term triggers include trends in FII flows, earnings commentary and key high-frequency indicators such as GST collections, PMI readings (manufacturing and services), auto sales amongst others that signal demand momentum.

Progress on the execution of recently announced trade agreements with the US, and EU, could emerge as an incremental catalyst, as clarity on tariffs, market access and supply-chain realignment may improve export visibility and corporate capex sentiment.

Globally, the trajectory of US rates, bond yields, and AI-led tech spending will remain crucial for risk appetite, while crude oil trends and China’s macro outlook could influence commodities and inflation expectations.

Overall, market direction should increasingly be guided by earnings delivery, global trade and liquidity conditions.

Q) What is your take on the December quarter earnings, which have come through? Are we seeing green shoots?
A) As of 2nd Feb’26, 199/31 companies within the MOFSL Universe/Nifty have announced their 3QFY26 results. The earnings of the aforesaid MOFSL Universe companies/Nifty companies grew 14% YoY (in line with our estimate of 13% YoY) and 7% YoY (vs. our est. of +8% YoY) respectively in 3QFY26.

Overall earnings growth was driven by Metals, which grew 59% YoY; Oil & Gas rose 15%; BFSI grew 8%; Technology rose 12%, and Automobiles increased 18%.

While the quarter was not uniformly strong, it indicated earnings stabilisation, with early green shoots in segments such as banking, metals, industrials, logistics, where volumes and margin trends have steadied after headwinds.

The moderation in cost pressures and signs of volume recovery in key sectors reflect improving demand dynamics. While growth remains gradual, the trend is constructive — especially as sectors with stable balance sheets show resilience.

Increasing clarity on order books, capex plans and consumption metrics provide a better measure of the broad earnings health.

Overall, the quarter suggests a stabilising earnings backdrop, where companies with strong fundamentals and clear earnings visibility are likely to command a premium.

Q) Which sectors are likely to remain in the limelight in 2026, post-Budget, trade deal, etc.?
A) Post the Budget and recent trade developments, sectoral leadership in 2026 is likely to be driven by policy continuity, export tailwinds and a gradual recovery in domestic demand.

The US-India trade deal is expected to have a multi-layered positive impact on the economy and export-oriented sectors. Auto ancillaries, defence, textiles, EMS, consumer durables, gems and jewellery and utilities are likely to be key beneficiaries, while financials could see second-order gains through improved growth visibility.

Meanwhile, under the Union Budget, policy thrust remains firmly tilted toward public capex, with capital expenditure budgeted to rise 11.5% YoY to INR12.2t in FY27E, supporting sectors leveraged to the investment cycle.

Therefore, Capital goods, infrastructure and industrials should remain in focus amid strong execution visibility and sustained government capex. A key highlight was the government’s intent to attract global investment into data centres, which could drive incremental opportunities across digital infrastructure and utilities.

Financials may see steady traction supported by healthy credit growth and stable asset quality, alongside tactical opportunities in capital-market-linked businesses.

Further, pharma and specialty chemicals may remain in the limelight as trade agreements and supply-chain diversification improve export prospects.

Q) How should one play the small & midcap theme this year?
A) The small and midcap theme in 2026 is likely to remain opportunity-rich but increasingly selective, with earnings visibility and balance-sheet strength becoming more important than momentum.

Investors may prefer quality midcaps with strong order books, cash-flow visibility and exposure to structural themes such as manufacturing, capex and exports, while being cautious on crowded pockets where valuations remain elevated.

Given the potential for intermittent consolidation and sector rotation, staggered allocations could be more effective than aggressive positioning. A balanced approach combining selective SMIDs with relatively better-valued large caps may help manage volatility while retaining growth exposure.

Q) How are we placed in terms of valuation among other EM players?
A) As of Feb’26, Indian equities continue to trade at a structural premium to most EM peers, though valuations have moderated meaningfully after the recent consolidation.

The Nifty50 now trades closer to its long-term average of 20.9x, while the valuation gap between MSCI India and broader EM indices has narrowed from peak levels.

Relative to markets such as China, Korea and parts of ASEAN, India remains premium-valued, supported by stronger earnings visibility, domestic liquidity and macro stability.

We believe markets are approaching a valuation inflection rather than a decisive reversal — with improving earnings trends, policy clarity and gradual return of FII flows providing a constructive backdrop.

Q) How are FIIs looking at India? We are seeing some buying coming back towards Indian equities.
A) FII sentiment toward India appears to be gradually improving, with flows turning more constructive following the India-US trade deal announcement and greater clarity on policy risks.

The FIIs have turned net buyers in February so far (up till 10th Feb) after persistently selling for the past seven months. The reduction in tariff uncertainty, coupled with India’s relatively resilient earnings outlook and macro stability, has helped restore confidence among global investors.

While positioning remains selective, FIIs are increasingly viewing India as a structural growth market within emerging markets, supported by steady earnings visibility and improving export competitiveness. Further, any stability in global rates and currency trends could further accelerate inflows.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)

Wally is the founder and President of Wallace R. Weitz & Company. Wally, a Chartered Financial Analyst, manages Hickory Fund and Partners III Opportunity Fund and co-manages Value Fund and Partners Value Fund.
Wally’s investment career began in 1961, at age 12, when he invested the profits from various entrepreneurial ventures. After going through a charting phase in high school, Wally discovered Benjamin Graham’s Security Analysis and was converted to value investing. After earning a B.A. in Economics at Carleton College in 1970, Wally spent three years in New York doing security analysis, primarily on the small companies in which G.A. Saxton made over-the-counter markets. In 1973 he joined Chiles, Heider & Co., a regional brokerage firm in Omaha, where he spent ten years as an analyst and portfolio manager. In 1983 he started Wallace R. Weitz & Company, and now heads a group of eight investment professionals that manages approximately $2 billion. Wally’s approach to value investing has evolved over the years. It combines Graham’s price sensitivity and insistence on a “margin of safety” with a conviction that qualitative factors that allow companies to have some control over their own destinies can be more important than statistical measurements, such as historical book value or reported earnings. Wally has the good fortune to be paid to pursue his favorite hobby, investing, but he also enjoys golf, skiing, tennis, reading, and working with charitable and educational foundations. Wally is on the Board of Trustees for Carleton College and serves on the Executive Committee of Building Bright Futures in Omaha.