India Is on a Tear

Massive modernization presents opportunities for investors.

- By Nellie S. Huang, Photography by Istockphoto.com

“ADVENTURES DO OCCUR, BUT NOT punctually,” writes E.M. Forster in A Passage to India. In other words, exciting things happen in India, but a little patience is required. In recent years, however, it seems events have sped up in the Asian subcontinent, and that’s fueling a stock market rally.

Government reforms initiated a few years ago have finally started to pay off. The changes, plus a rebound in economic activity, have lifted India’s stocks. The MSCI India index, which tracks mostly large companies, climbed 32.6% over the past 12 months, its best showing in four years and well ahead of the 0.9% rise in the developing country-stock index, MSCI Emerging Markets. Indian small-company stocks gained even more: 53.5% (returns are through December 3).

The rally is far from over, say analysts and fund managers who invest in the country. Volatility is to be expected, of course; the new COVID-19 variant, for instance, is a risk. But many short- and long-term factors could propel growth in India for years to come. We’ll explain the key drivers and point you toward good funds that offer the best exposure.