Indian stocks face worst Asia underperformance in three decades

Core Insights - Indian equities are experiencing their largest underperformance against Asian peers in nearly 30 years, driven by a weak rupee and significant foreign outflows [1][2] - Foreign funds withdrew $1.7 billion in December, leading to a record annual outflow of $17.9 billion [1] - The NSE Nifty 50 Index is on track for its biggest annual underperformance since the late 1990s, with a 0.8% decline in December [3] Market Performance - Despite recent challenges, India's stock market is set to achieve a 10th consecutive year of gains, supported by local institutional investments of approximately $81 billion in 2025 [3] - The Nifty 50 Index has historically shown a tendency to decline in January, averaging a loss of 1.1% [4] Future Outlook - Strategists from Nomura and Citigroup anticipate further gains for Indian equities in 2026, contingent on improving corporate earnings and effective domestic demand policies [4] - The IPO market is expected to remain robust, with forecasts suggesting proceeds will exceed $25 billion in the upcoming year [5]