Core Insights - A recent report from Kotak Securities highlights the Indian stock market's poor performance, revealing low corporate earnings growth and near-zero investment returns over the past year [2][4] - The report suggests that the narrative of a buoyant stock market is misleading, as it overlooks fundamental issues affecting corporate and market performance [3][4] Group 1: Stock Market Performance - The report titled "1-year, $90 bn and 0% Return Later" challenges the prevailing optimism about the stock market by emphasizing the lack of substantial returns [2] - Assertions of stock market buoyancy are contradicted by middling earnings and high valuations, indicating a disconnect between retail investment inflows and actual market health [4][5] Group 2: Household Financial Savings - Net financial savings (NFS) of the household sector fell to 5.2% of GDP in 2023-24, down from 7.4% in 2016-17, primarily due to rising household liabilities [5][6] - The share of deposits in household financial assets decreased from 49.7% in 2011-12 to 38.3% in 2023-24, while investment in equity and funds rose from 12.8% to 26.8% during the same period [6] Group 3: Economic Implications - Low deposit rates are driving households towards riskier equity investments despite stagnant income growth, raising concerns about financial stability [7][9] - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) acknowledges the shift from banking to equity as a healthy trend, although there are concerns about the risks associated with this transition [10][11] Group 4: Government Revenue and Market Dynamics - The increasing share of tax revenues from capital markets, particularly from securities transaction tax (STT), indicates a governmental interest in maintaining stock market activity [12] - The 2025-26 Union budget projects a 131% growth in STT collections compared to 2023-24, suggesting a potential motive for sustaining market performance [12][13]