Goldman Sachs double downgrades SBI, ICICI Bank; says goldilocks period over for financials

Global investment banking firm Goldman Sachs has turned bearish on financial stocks and has double downgraded State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank, and Yes Bank. The brokerage reckons that the goldilocks period for the sector has concluded and sees headwinds in the near term. 

As per the report, headwinds in the segment can be experienced due to the following: 

-Increasing pressure on the cost of funds due to the tightening of regulations by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

-Growing concerns about rising consumer leverage, which can affect asset quality. 

-Pressure on operating costs of banks, which will force them to increase the distribution network for future growth.

Here's what Goldman Sachs recommends on Financials: 

The brokerage has double downgraded to 'neutral' from 'buy' and raised the target to Rs 741 from Rs 677. Similarly, it has double downgraded ICICI Bank to 'neutral' from 'buy' and has cut the target to Rs 1,086 from Rs 1,179. 

Further, the brokerage has double-downgraded Yes Bank to 'sell' from 'neutral' for a target of Rs 16.

For Bajaj Finance, Goldman Sachs has double upgraded to 'neutral' from 'sell' and has decreased the target to Rs 6,815 from Rs 7,114. 

Meanwhile, the brokerage has maintained 'buy' on HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, and Shriram Finance and has cut the target price to 1,915, 2116, Rs 1,747, Rs 1,194, and Rs 2,797, respectively. 

Additionally, the brokerage has iterated 'sell' on PNB Housing Finance and has raised the target to Rs 637 from Rs 408 per share. Further, it has continued with a 'neutral' stance on Aavas Financiers and has cut the target to Rs 1,584 from Rs 1,832.
 
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