One among the many key factors influencing the price movement of shares is inflation. Inflation is the general rise in the prices of goods and services. The higher the rate of inflation in an economy is, the higher the prices of goods and services will be and vice versa.
So, if you’re someone who is interested in investing in the stock market, then it is crucial for you to know that the movement of share prices is influenced by inflation to a large degree. Wondering why? Let’s take a look. But before that, let’s first go through the different kinds of stocks that are most susceptible to this economic indicator.
What kind of stocks are influenced by inflation?
Stocks can be broadly classified into two types - cyclical stocks and defensive stocks. Companies whose shares are affected by changes in the economic scenario of a country are known as cyclical stocks. And companies whose shares remain unaffected or least affected by economic changes are known as defensive stocks.
Examples of cyclical stocks are companies that manufacture consumer durables, luxury goods, and automotives. Companies that are in the airline and hospitality industry can also be categorized as cyclical stocks. This is primarily due to the fact that the business of cyclical companies are the first to get affected by changes in macroeconomic factors such as inflation.
Similarly, examples of defensive stocks are companies that are involved in the manufacture of food items, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), and other staple goods. Also, entities that are in the production and distribution of water, electricity, fuel, and gas can also be categorized as defensive stocks. This is due to the fact that individuals are going to continue purchasing goods and services from such companies irrespective of the rate of inflation or the current economic scenario.
Therefore, during times of inflation, the companies whose share prices would get influenced would be cyclical stocks. That said, during times of high inflation, defensive stocks may also be affected as well. However, the level of impact on their share prices may not be as significant as that of cyclical stocks.
Why are such stocks being influenced by inflation?
The primary reason why stocks are influenced by inflation has to do with the consequences of inflation. Now, when the rate of inflation in an economy is high, the central bank of that country attempts to manage it by raising interest rates.
The increase in the interest rates, makes it more expensive to borrow money, thereby reducing the supply of money in the economy. And with low money supply, individuals generally tend to purchase less goods and services produced by cyclical stocks. This would ultimately lead to low sales and revenue, impacting the net profit of cyclical companies. As a result, the share prices of such companies would also get hit.
Another reason for such stocks getting influenced by inflation has to do with the general rise in the prices of goods and services. With higher inflation, the cost of raw materials and input services used by cyclical companies are also likely to become high. This can end up impacting the net profit of the company, which would again cause the share price to get hit.
Conclusion
With this, you must now be aware of inflation and its effects on certain kinds of stocks. The next time you invest in a company, make sure to take the macroeconomic factors into consideration as well. With the help of an inflation calculator, you may determine how much your money has dropped in value over time and change your investing strategy as necessary. That said, if you don’t have a demat account, then get in touch with Motilal Oswal right away. You can open a demat account and a trading account online within just a few minutes.
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