Interview with chairman of Rogers Holding
Economy news : As global equity markets continue on their journey north, JIM ROGERS, chairman of Rogers Holdings tells Puneet Wadhwa that he expects a correction going ahead. His decision of not to invest right now is not India specific, but has to do with the problems relating to how the major global economies are shaping up. Edited excerpts:
India has implemented the biggest tax reform in history - the goods and services tax (GST). What are your thoughts on the development?
With the implementation of GST, Prime Minister Modi has done what he said earlier. If GST can overhaul the tax system in India, it will be wonderful. This is the best thing to have happened to India by a politician since its independence, i.e. since the last 70 years.
What do you expect from the government in its remaining tenure? Do you see populist measures take centre stage with 2019 general elections in mind?
Well, Narendra Modi has done many populist things in the past. I think the last Union Budget had a number of populist measures as well. But, I don't know how populist will the GST will prove to be, as it is likely to disrupt a lot of people's lives. However, in the end, the measure will be good as it will overhaul the tax system in India. With the elections coming up in 2019, I am sure there will be other populist measures. Every politician in the world prepares for elections by giving away as much as he can.
What's your view on India now as an investment destination? Are you planning to invest here?
No, not yet. That's because I am not investing anywhere in the world right now. I am worried about the global financial markets and hence, I am in a wait-and-watch mode. If the United States (US), Japan or any other major market has problems, it will be a bad one. I am worried that the next time we have an economic slowdown, it's going to be very, very bad and will impact everyone. My decision of not to invest right now is not India specific, but has to do with the problems relating to how the major global economies are shaping up.
So, what's your view on the global financial markets from here on? Is a crash coming soon?
I expect a global financial problem in the latter half of the current financial year or in 2018, especially in the US. The US is the largest debtor nation in the world now, and its debts are mounting. Its stock markets are at an all-time high and the central bank is continuing to raise interest rates. I expect problems in the financial markets sometime later this year, or in the next year.
What factors will trigger a correction, in your view?
There are many things. It is always a combination of factors that we don't expect. In 2007, Iceland went bankrupt and most people didn't know there was a country by that name and that it was running into a crisis. And then Ireland went broke. And then Bear Stearns went broke. Lehman Brothers, too, went broke. Problems spiral like that and then cause a crash across the financial markets.
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India has implemented the biggest tax reform in history - the goods and services tax (GST). What are your thoughts on the development?
With the implementation of GST, Prime Minister Modi has done what he said earlier. If GST can overhaul the tax system in India, it will be wonderful. This is the best thing to have happened to India by a politician since its independence, i.e. since the last 70 years.
What do you expect from the government in its remaining tenure? Do you see populist measures take centre stage with 2019 general elections in mind?
Well, Narendra Modi has done many populist things in the past. I think the last Union Budget had a number of populist measures as well. But, I don't know how populist will the GST will prove to be, as it is likely to disrupt a lot of people's lives. However, in the end, the measure will be good as it will overhaul the tax system in India. With the elections coming up in 2019, I am sure there will be other populist measures. Every politician in the world prepares for elections by giving away as much as he can.
What's your view on India now as an investment destination? Are you planning to invest here?
No, not yet. That's because I am not investing anywhere in the world right now. I am worried about the global financial markets and hence, I am in a wait-and-watch mode. If the United States (US), Japan or any other major market has problems, it will be a bad one. I am worried that the next time we have an economic slowdown, it's going to be very, very bad and will impact everyone. My decision of not to invest right now is not India specific, but has to do with the problems relating to how the major global economies are shaping up.
So, what's your view on the global financial markets from here on? Is a crash coming soon?
I expect a global financial problem in the latter half of the current financial year or in 2018, especially in the US. The US is the largest debtor nation in the world now, and its debts are mounting. Its stock markets are at an all-time high and the central bank is continuing to raise interest rates. I expect problems in the financial markets sometime later this year, or in the next year.
What factors will trigger a correction, in your view?
There are many things. It is always a combination of factors that we don't expect. In 2007, Iceland went bankrupt and most people didn't know there was a country by that name and that it was running into a crisis. And then Ireland went broke. And then Bear Stearns went broke. Lehman Brothers, too, went broke. Problems spiral like that and then cause a crash across the financial markets.
Read full story
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