< The 2015 All-Asia Research Team
Total appearances: 20
Team debut: 1994The 17-member Bank of America Merrill Lynch squad in Mumbai leaps from runner-up to claim the No. 2 position. Under the direction of strategist Jyoti Jaipuria, 51, and 48-year-old newcomer Indranil Sen Gupta — who is also chief economist — the researchers follow 125 Indian names. “I have followed their recommendations closely,” says one portfolio manager in Hong Kong, “and their coverage is always good and in-depth.” This fan particularly hails the analysts’ coverage of Motherson Sumi Systems, a Noida-based supplier of electrical and plastic components for automobile and other industries. They have long advised clients to buy the stock, thanks to such drivers as robust and highly visible sales growth as the company has expanded into China and other international markets. Motherson’s stock performed well during the 12 months through April, rocketing 98.7 percent, to 506 rupees, and pacing the Indian market by 80.4 percentage points. “Because of their long experience through bear and bull markets, they are uniquely qualified to help investors navigate India’s frequent policy changes and their impact on equity markets,” attests another admirer. Before going to BofA Merrill in August 2007, Gupta worked as chief economist at Kotak Securities and spent a decade at the Reserve Bank of India, where he analyzed monetary conditions and forecast liquidity. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Calcutta and a master’s degree in economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.
