Global stocks gain as US Fed hikes rate after 3 years. Here's how Indian markets have fared historically post the event

The US Federal Reserved has hiked interest rates by 0.25% for the first time after three years in a bid to control a 40-year high inflation in the country. However, global markets, including the US, cheered the move as Chair Jerome Powell said the US economy “is strong” and can handle monetary tightening. 

Not only this, the US Fed signalled a rate hike in the remaining six policy meets for the current calendar year. 

Global Stocks Surge

Asia-Pacific equities rose more than 2% as the tech gains propelled Hong Kong and a weaker yen spurred export-reliant Japan. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures fluctuated after the broad U.S. market’s best two-day gain since 2020, Bloomberg reported. 

"We're not going to let high inflation become entrenched. The costs of that would be too high," Powell said, adding, "If we conclude that it would be appropriate to raise interest rates more quickly, then then we'll do so."

Talking on the Russia-Ukraine War, Powell said events like higher crude oil and commodity prices, "the invasion and related events may restrain economic activity abroad and further disrupt supply chains, which would create spillovers to the US economy."

On recession, he said there is little chance of a recession in the next year, noting that "the American economy is very strong and well positioned to handle tighter monetary policy."

Japan's Nikkei rose 3.14 percent or 808.34 points to 26,570.35 in the first 15 minutes of trading, while the broader Topix index added 2.39 percent or 44.35 points to 1,897.60, AFP reported. 

Investors were cheered by the US central bank raising interest rates in the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) as widely expected, lifting US shares, it further said. 

"The Tokyo market is enjoying continued upward momentum. There were no negative surprises at FOMC. Wall Street shares ended higher across the board... These should serve as positive factors for Tokyo shares," AFP quoted Okasan Online Securities as saying.

Australian shares jumped to a one-month high on Thursday, led by technology and mining stocks, as global markets advanced after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates as expected, Reuters said, adding, “The S&P/ASX 200 index advanced as much as 1.7% to 7,296.80, hitting its highest since Feb. 17, and extending gains after Wednesday's 1.1% jump.”

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index gained 1.5% to 12,050.95 after data showed gross domestic product rose 3% in the fourth quarter.

Bitcoin, too, joined in the risk-asset rally and was trading around $41,000.

China’s more market-friendly policy stance unveiled Wednesday and possible progress on cease-fire talks between Russia and Ukraine are also shaping sentiment. An index of U.S.-listed Chinese stocks jumped 33% overnight, Bloomberg reported. 

The Indian Market's History With Fed Rates

2022 has not been a very good year for the Indian markets yet with the benchmark Nifty down 2 percent year-to-date. It has also tumbled over 10 percent from its 52-week high, hit on October 19, 2021. While the recent correction has been on the bank of worsening tensions between Russia and Ukraine and inflation concerns from the resulting crude price surge. The overall market sentiment has been weak for a while with the foreign investors continuously selling due to high valuations and growth outlook concerns on the back of COVID's third wave.

While, it is believed that the rise in interest rate by US Fed is negative for the Indian markets, if you look at the historical data, the markets have always risen 6 months and 1 year after a rate hike.

Even with the Fed preparing to hike rates, the Nifty is still up 123 percent since bottoming on March 23, 2020.

Investors believe that an unplanned hike reduces risk appetite and increases volatility in Indian markets, however, if the hike is planned and expected, the market's price in the hike and hence the disruption is contained.

But if you look at the earlier data, even during an unplanned hike, while there is a short-term knee jerk reaction, after 6 months, the markets have always given positive returns.

Let's take a look at the data:

How are bonds and rupee impacted

The hikes in interest rates lead to a rise in bond yields for US treasuries. This in turn decreases the difference in rate between Indian bonds and US bonds making the latter more attractive thus leading to FII outflows.

Also, a rise in interest rate leads to weakening of the rupee as the dollar strengthens, as mentioned earlier. However, this decline in the rupee leads to lower investment returns for foreign investors as the rate of change from rupee to dollar becomes expensive. This also leads to outflows of foreign funds in India.

Will rate hikes in the US prompt the same here?

Even though India has an independent monetary policy mainly based on maintaining retail inflation at a certain level. Weakening in rupee may lead to a rise in import costs which can lead to higher inflation, hence forcing the RBI to increase the rate. Thus, a rise in US fed rates is considered an important variable while deciding interest rates in India.