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JPMorgan Sees India Share Sale Boom Reaching $30 Billion in 2024

Sales of additional shares in listed companies in the country have surpassed $10 billion this year, more than the tally for all of 2022, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The momentum can sustain into next year and beyond as owners of Indian companies are keen to raise funds for other investments, said Abhinav Bharti, India head of equity capital markets at JPMorgan. Demand from local asset managers as well as foreign investors is also driving share sales, he added.

“Because of recent softness in Chinese economic data, a lot of these global EM fund managers are underweight on China and now where you go and deploy that extra capital, you must have a counter overweight as well,” Bharti said. “India is benefiting from that.”

EK: It’s happening, as predicted.

One in 10 Japanese Now Aged Over 80, Population Report Shows

Japan’s persistently low birthrate and long lifespans have made it the oldest country in the world in terms of the proportion of people aged over 65, which this year hit a record of 29.1%.

Ballooning social security spending has added to Japan’s massive debt and the shortage of young people has left many industries short of labor — not least carers for the elderly. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said the country risks losing its ability to function if it does not take radical measures.

Similar problems with aging and shrinking populations are spreading across other parts of Asia, with South Korea expected to take over as the world’s grayest nation in the coming decades. China’s population began to shrink in 2022 for the first time in 60 years.

EK: Low fertility, increased lifespans. Immigration may be the way to resolve the issues and reinforce productivity.