Daily Brief Financials: Bank Of Baroda, iShares MSCI ACWI ETF, S&U PLC and more

• We add value play Bank of Baroda to the peer group, and to our buy list; we also add liquidity and funding screens and a PEG ratio valuation metric
• We keep HDFC Bank as our higher quality bank, with its strong balance sheet, especially on NPA coverage, and further positive momentum from the upcoming HDFC merger
• We remain negative on State Bank of India, and we are also cautious on ICICI Bank; Axis bank remains a name to watch, although valuations are far from compelling

• There continues to be little traction above $93 on MSCI ACWI (ACWI-US), which remains the top-end of our anticipated 2023 trading range. Important downside targets are $86, $84, and $75-77.
• Additionally, the EURO STOXX 50 remains below 2-year resistance at 4400-4415.
• We remain overweight Europe, Japan, and India, and we prefer to only add exposure on a pullback — especially in Japan where indexes are bullish yet extended.

S&U, the specialist motor and property finance lender, reported a good start to the financial year with profit before tax (PBT) up £0.3m in the period to 24 May despite group borrowing costs increasing by £3m versus the same period last year. A new £230m funding facility has increased total funding facilities to £280m, giving the group just under £100m to fund its growth plans over the next two years. Although rising interest rates are a headwind, credit quality remains strong, and S&U expects growth to continue in FY24. Our estimates remain unchanged.