Samvat 2081 dawns with hopes, doubts on Street

Mint poll finds market experts split on Sensex reaching 100,000 mark by March

- Mayur Bhalerao & Niti Kiran

How far lies the 100,000 milestone for Dalal Street? Will retail investors keep faith on the way? Is a market correction around the corner?

Ahead of the dawn of Samvat 2081, Mint reached out to 16 analysts to gauge the mood of the market, in the inaugural edition of a quarterly survey. The big question on everyone's minds: Will the Sensex touch the six-digit frontier soon, or will turbulence hold it back?

In a split verdict, nearly half (47%) of those who answered expressed optimism that the index would reach the milestone by March 2025. Others voiced doubt (53%), mainly citing global challenges. That said, most were confident about the outlook for retail investors, stating that China's recent stimulus measures wouldn't cost India in terms of much-needed foreign portfolio inflows (FPIs).

The Mint poll covered research heads, founders, chief executive officers (CEOs) and senior fund managers at mutual funds, financial services firms, and investment banks. Indian stocks recently scaled impressive highs, but signs of a correction are getting stronger. FPIs are withdrawing capital amid uncertainties over the US elections and the conflict in West Asia.