Worries over the state of the European and U.S. economies and slowing global growth have led to a sharp sell off in emerging market equities since late July, butMark Mobius, Executive Chairman at Templeton Emerging Markets says the downtrend is temporary and Asian stocks will bounce back.
Bloomberg
Mark Mobius, chairman of Templeton Asset Management Ltd., speaks during a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010. Malaysia's stocks are not as cheap as other emerging markets and dividend yields are lower, Mobius said. Photographer: Goh Seng Chong/Bloomberg via Getty Images
"There will be a reversal…this is just a correction in an ongoing bull market,” Mobius told CNBC.com on Wednesday.
The near 20 percent fall in the benchmark MSCI Emerging Market Index from its peak in May, has raised concerns over a possible bear market forming.
But, Mobius says that once the economic mayhem in Europe is over, there is a risk of hot money pouring back into the region, similar to what happened in 2008 during recent the global financial crisis.
“After all this turmoil is over you’re going to see people moving back into these countries, many people haven’t left (and) you’ll see more and more people coming in,” he added.
Bullish on India
Mobius says investors should put money in Indian stocks, which he believes offer compelling valuations at the moment.
“Stocks have come down to a level that is very attractive, so we are continuing to buy in India,” he said.
The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) benchmark, the Sensex, has declined over 19 percent since the start of 2011 and the current price-to-earnings ratio has fallen to around 15 from a high of 21 in October of 2010.
According to Mobius, India’s commodity and consumer sectors are the most attractive at the moment. Templeton’s India Growth Fund has holdings in fertilizer maker Tata Chemicals, consumer lender ING Vysya and the country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki.
