Friday, January 13, 2012

IT Sector stocks – time to change the game plan?

Recently, Sabeer Bhatia (of Hotmail fame) was in Calcutta/Kolkata for a little R&R-cum-business. (December and January are the two most pleasant months in the city, and attracts NRIs by the hordes.) Along with spending quality time with his in-laws and playing golf, Sri Bhatia indulged in promoting his latest venture (JaxtrSMS - free SMS through the Internet), hobnobbing with the Chief Minister and giving press interviews and speeches at IT industry gatherings.

One of the important points he raised was that Indian IT companies are over-dependent on selling services through hiring out consultants to overseas clients. Successful Indian software products are conspicuous by their absence. Apparently, JaxtrSMS has been totally designed and created by Indian software engineers sitting in India. It is time that other companies follow his lead.

Certainly the 10 chart patterns of Indian IT companies attached below indicate that Sabeer Bhatia may be right – it is time to change the game plan from services to products if the Indian IT sector wishes to retain its position in the global pecking order. Already, Philippines and East European countries are taking away IT-enabled service contracts from India.

HCL Tech

HCL Tech_Jan12

HCL Tech formed a double-top reversal pattern during Apr ‘11 to Jul ‘11 and dropped sharply into a bear market. The chart is looking weak and the price can dip to test the Aug ‘11 low. Switch to Wipro.

Infosys

Infosys_Jan12

The recent changes in management seem to have robbed Infosys of whatever little aggression it had. The recent attempts at getting back into a bull market have fizzled out. The stock is looking oversold, and can bounce up towards the blue up-trend line. That will be a selling opportunity.

KPIT Cummins

KPIT Cummins_Jan12

After touching a peak in Jul ‘11, KPIT Cummins is making a bearish pattern of lower tops and lower bottoms, and is in a bear market. The chart is looking weak, and the stock can test and break the Dec ‘11 low. Sell.

Mindtree

Mindtree_Jan12

Ashok Soota’s departure from the helm of affairs hurt the market sentiment badly. The Mindtree stock is trying to extricate itself from a strong bear grip – with some degree of success. The stock is making a bullish rounding bottom pattern, and can be added on dips (but with strict stop-loss).

MPhasis

Mphasis_Jan12

Not sure what MPhasis is doing currently, but the chart pattern shows that it is not doing it well. The stock is deep inside a bear market and likely to fall further. Avoid.

Oracle Financials

Oracle Fin_Jan12

The stock of Oracle Financials peaked out in Jul ‘11 by making a small double-top reversal pattern, and is in a bear market. The stock is expected to resume its fall soon as both the RSI and the slow stochastic are showing overbought conditions. Sell.

Tata Elxsi

Tata Elxsi_Jan12

Tata Elxsi seems to have lost its way, and is sliding in a bear market. The current rally has been on falling volumes and both the RSI and the slow stochastic are looking overbought. Avoid.

TCS

TCS_Jan12

Despite its gap-down fall below the blue up-trend line – probably in sympathy with the Infosys stock – TCS is technically in a bull market. Both the RSI and the slow stochastic are looking oversold, and a pullback towards the blue trend line is on the cards. Use the opportunity to book partial profits. Q3 results may not be as bad as some are expecting.

Tech Mahindra

Tech Mahindra_Jan12

Tech Mahindra is another stock that peaked out in Jul ‘11 and quickly slipped into a bear market. The next leg of the down move may start soon. Get out.

Wipro

Wipro_Jan12

Wipro has recovered very smartly after a short spell in a bear market. The ‘golden cross’ of the 50 day EMA above the 200 day EMA will confirm a bull market. Change of CEO has brought in new direction and aggressiveness that was lacking earlier. Use dips to buy.

Related Post

In which IT Sector stocks should you invest?

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