Wednesday, March 19, 2025

What Happens in the First 30 Days After a Scandal or Crisis?

 When a major crisis breaks out for a bank or financial institution, the stock tends to follow a typical pattern in the first 30 days. Below is a summary based on historical cases:


📉 1. Immediate Crash (Days 1-5)

  • Stock falls sharply (typically 10-30% in the first few days).
  • Investors panic due to uncertainty and liquidity rushes out of the stock.
  • Negative news headlines dominate media coverage, amplifying fear.
  • Short sellers take aggressive positions.

Example:

  • Wells Fargo (2016): Fell ~10% in 3 days after the fake accounts scandal.
  • IndusInd Bank (2024): Already fell ~15-20% in a few days after the derivative issue came out.

⏳ 2. Continued Selling & Negative Sentiment (Days 6-15)

  • Stock remains under pressure, with occasional small bounces.
  • More negative headlines emerge, possibly revealing deeper issues.
  • Institutional investors may start selling or cutting positions.
  • Credit rating agencies may downgrade the bank, further pressuring the stock.
  • If the company remains silent, fear escalates, and selling intensifies.

Example:

  • ICICI Bank (2018, Chanda Kochhar scandal): Stock fell ~20% over 2 weeks, then stabilized.
  • JP Morgan (2012, "London Whale" trading losses): Stock fell 22% in 10 days, then found a base.

📊 3. Stabilization & First Signs of Recovery (Days 16-30)

  • Stock starts to find a base as panic selling slows.
  • Valuation becomes very cheap, attracting deep-value investors.
  • If the bank announces corrective actions (resignations, investigations, transparency), confidence slowly starts to return.
  • Some short covering happens, leading to sharp relief rallies of 5-15%.
  • However, full recovery is still far away—the stock remains volatile.

Example:

  • Axis Bank (2017, NPA shock): Recovered ~12% after 30 days, but remained volatile.
  • Wells Fargo (2016): Gained ~8% in the 3rd week, but full recovery took much longer.

🔎 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Biggest damage happens in the first 5-10 days (10-30% fall).
2️⃣ Stock remains weak for the next 2 weeks, with occasional small rallies.
3️⃣ After ~30 days, stabilization begins, and a slow recovery process starts.


📈 What Could Happen to IndusInd Bank in the Next 30 Days?

  • Already fell ~20% (could fall a bit more if more bad news emerges).
  • Likely to stay volatile for 2-3 weeks, with negative headlines.
  • If the bank addresses concerns transparently, stabilization could begin in 3-4 weeks.
  • Short-term bounce of 5-10% likely after 20-30 days as panic selling slows.
  • Full recovery will take months to years, depending on damage to reputation.

⏳ How Long Did Past Banking Scandals Take to Recover Fully?

Looking at historical cases, the time required for full recovery (returning to pre-crisis highs) varies based on the severity of the scandal, the bank’s response, and market conditions.


📊 Recovery Timelines of Major Banking Scandals

Bank & ScandalStock Drop (%)Time to Recover 40%Time to Double (100%)Time to All-Time High
Wells Fargo (2016) – Fake accounts scandal🔻 22%~2.5 months~1.5 years~2.5 years
JP Morgan (2012) – "London Whale" derivatives losses🔻 30%~3 months~1.8 years~3 years
American Express (1963) – Salad oil crisis🔻 50%~4 months~2 years~4 years
ICICI Bank (2018) – Chanda Kochhar scandal🔻 33%~2 months~1.2 years~3 years
Axis Bank (2017) – NPA shock🔻 25%~3 months~1.5 years~3 years

🔎 Key Observations from Past Cases

Fastest recovery: ICICI Bank recovered 40% in ~2 months due to improving financials.
Longest full recovery: American Express took ~4 years to reclaim all-time highs.
Common pattern: After a 40% gain, stocks pause for some time before doubling.
Derivatives scandals (JP Morgan, IndusInd Bank) tend to recover slower than governance-related scandals.


📈 What This Means for IndusInd Bank?

  • Time to recover 40%: ~2 to 4 months if negative news flow slows down.
  • Time to double (100% rise): 1.5 to 2.5 years, depending on confidence restoration.
  • Time to all-time high (~2000 INR): 3-4 years, assuming consistent growth.

📊 Estimating IndusInd Bank’s Future Targets

If IndusInd follows Wells Fargo (2016):

  • 40% gain: ₹980 (in 2-4 months).
  • 100% gain: ₹1,400 (in ~1.5-2 years).
  • All-time high: ₹2,000+ (in ~3-4 years).

If IndusInd follows JP Morgan (2012):

  • 40% gain: ₹980 (in ~3 months).
  • 100% gain: ₹1,400 (in ~2 years).
  • All-time high: ₹2,000+ (in ~3-4 years).

📊 Downgraded Banks in Our Study & Market Impact

Bank & YearReason for DowngradeRating AgencyStock Impact (30 Days)Time to Recover
Wells Fargo (2016)Fake accounts scandal & governance issuesS&P, Moody’s🔻 10% in first month~2.5 years to ATH
JP Morgan (2012)$6B "London Whale" trading lossesMoody’s🔻 7% initially, 🔻 30% total~3 years to ATH
American Express (1963)Salad oil crisis—financial instabilityN/A (not rated back then)🔻 50% total~4 years to ATH
ICICI Bank (2018)CEO Chanda Kochhar controversy, governance issuesMoody’s, S&P🔻 12% post downgrade~3 years to ATH
Axis Bank (2017)Sharp NPA increase, asset quality concernsMoody’s, S&P🔻 8% in first month~3 years to ATH

🔻 What Happens If IndusInd Bank Gets Downgraded?

Based on past cases (Wells Fargo, JP Morgan, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank):

  1. Immediate stock price decline (5-15%) within the first month.
  2. Bond yields may rise, increasing borrowing costs for the bank.
  3. Depositor confidence may weaken, leading to slower deposit growth.
  4. Recovery could take 1.5-3 years, depending on management response.

📉 Stock Price Impact if Downgraded

  • Short-term dip: ₹650-680 levels if negative news intensifies.
  • Recovery phase (1-3 years): If fundamentals hold, ₹1,000-1,200 range over 12-18 months.
  • Long-term upside (3+ years): ₹1,500+ if the bank executes well.

💡 Key Watchlist for Investors

RBI’s stance—will it increase scrutiny or impose restrictions?
Rating agency commentary—look for signals from Moody’s, S&P, CRISIL.
Management’s response—how well they address governance & risk concerns.

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