February 2026 Market Views: Two Big Signals for India: The US Trade Deal and Budget FY 2027

In Brief: February 2026 edition of Market Views highlight a combination of policy-driven tailwinds and near-term market volatility. Some of the key developments include progress on the India–US trade framework, continued government capex support in the Union Budget FY2027, trends in F&O activity post-STT hikes, and a mixed but resilient Q3FY26 earnings picture across market segments. While market performance has seen phases of underperformance versus global peers, historical patterns suggest such periods have often been followed by stabilisation and recovery.

Setting the Context: Markets, Policy, and Data in Focus

In the February 2026 Market Views, Hiren Ved, Director and CIO, Alchemy Capital Management, contextualised recent market movements against a backdrop of significant policy actions, global trade developments, and domestic macro data. Rather than focusing on short-term market reactions, the discussion centred on understanding what the data is signalling, how similar phases have played out historically, and how structural drivers continue to evolve beneath near-term volatility.

India–US Trade Deal: Tariff Comparisons and Relative Positioning

One of the key themes discussed was India’s positioning in the evolving global trade landscape, particularly in comparison to other emerging and developed economies.

              Source: MOFSL | Note: Tariff rates as on February 05, 2026

As highlighted, India’s tariff positioning sits meaningfully lower than several competing emerging market exporters. This relative positioning becomes important in the context of supply-chain realignment and trade competitiveness, particularly for labour-intensive and export-oriented sectors.

Market Performance Cycles: India vs Emerging Markets

Hiren also addressed concerns around recent underperformance of Indian equities relative to broader emerging markets (EM) by placing the data in a historical framework.

Rolling 365-Day MSCI India vs MSCI EM Performance

Periods where MSCI India has underperformed MSCI EM have historically been followed by phases of recovery and relative outperformance.

                                                                                 Source: Jefferies India Equity Strategy Report dated February 02, 2026

                                                                     Note: *OPF - Outperformance, UPF – Underperformance

The point emphasised was not prediction, but perspective: relative underperformance phases are not unprecedented, and markets have historically gone through such cycles before normalising.

Union Budget FY2027: Capex Remains a Central Pillar

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the Union Budget FY2027, particularly government capital expenditure trends

                                      Source: India Budget Documents (https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/)

                                      Note: *RE – Revised Estimates, ^BE – Budget Estimates

The commentary underscored the consistency of capex commitment, even as growth rates moderate from very high base levels. Importantly, capex as a percentage of GDP remains elevated, signalling continued focus on infrastructure-led growth.

Where Is the Capex Going? Quality and Composition

Beyond headline numbers, Hiren highlighted the composition of capex spend.

                                                                                                                   Source: India Budget Documents (https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/)

                                                                                                                  Note: *YoY Increase for FY27BE compared to FY26RE

Roads, railways, and metros continue to account for over half of total capex, while defence emerges as a notable growth area, supported by indigenisation and domestic sourcing initiatives.

Policy Reforms Supporting the Broader Economic Framework

Several structural policy measures were also discussed:

• Income tax relief increasing disposable incomes
• GST rate rationalisation towards a simpler two-rate structure
• Labour code implementation improving workforce flexibility
• FDI liberalisation, including insurance and space sectors
• EU–India FTA progress, offering preferential access for exports
• Gradual China Engagement

These measures, taken together, were positioned as supportive of medium-term growth rather than immediate market triggers.

F&O Markets and STT (Securities Transaction Tax):

Hiren addressed concerns around higher STT and its impact on derivatives activity.

                  Source: NSE, BSE
                 Note: *Growth is calculated for 12 months pre & post change in STT rates, ^Average daily turnover, **Change in STT during October 2024 had limited impact on options & futures ADTO. October 2024 change was followed by a series of regulations by SEBI from December 2024 to March 2025, aimed at curbing retail participation which also played a role in decline.

The key takeaway was that STT hikes are not new, and previous increases have seen mixed short-term impact but did not structurally impair market participation over time.

Q3FY26 Earnings: Growth with Divergence

Earnings data formed another important anchor.

While margins moderated marginally, earnings growth remained positive across a broad base of companies.

Market Cap Segments: Large, Mid, Smallcaps

• Largecaps showed steady revenue growth with stable margins
• Midcaps delivered double-digit revenue growth but faced margin pressure
• Smallcaps recorded healthy profit growth, albeit with higher volatility

This divergence was positioned as a reflection of differing base effects and cost dynamics rather than a uniform slowdown.

Putting It All Together: Data Over Noise

The February 2026 Market Views reinforced a recurring theme: markets move in cycles, but data provides context. Trade developments, fiscal policy continuity, and earnings resilience together paint a picture that is more nuanced.

Rather than reacting to individual data points, the emphasis remained on understanding trends, historical patterns, and structural drivers shaping India’s economic trajectory.

Closing Perspective

As highlighted above, India’s macro and policy framework continues to evolve with a long-term orientation, even as markets navigate phases of uncertainty. By grounding market views in data and historical context, investors are better positioned to interpret developments beyond short-term fluctuations.

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