Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Third quarter may be the worst for Nifty cos

The December 2008 quarter is expected to be one of the toughest quarters for Corporate India and may prove to be a precursor to the challenges that lie ahead of India Inc.

According to the quarterly estimates by ET Intelligence Group, nearly half of the Nifty companies are likely to report either a fall or near-flat net profits for the quarter compared with the corresponding quarter of the previous year. However, all may not be lost as companies from select sectors may report a robust growth.

Slowing domestic industrial production, slump in the global demand, crisis in financial markets in the West and a sharp currency fluctuation are the major factors that are likely to create headwinds for India Inc in the third quarter of the current fiscal.

Barring a few exceptions such as telecom, banking, cement and FMCG, companies from other sectors are likely to report decelerating revenues and declining profits. The third quarter is expected to be one of the worst quarters in the recent history for the automobile sector. Three companies from the sector are expected to be among the 10 worst Nifty performers.

Commercial vehicle manufacturers would find it difficult to sustain a growth given more than 50% contraction in truck sales. Further, Tata Motors could experience its first quarterly loss in seven years due to a sharp decline in truck and passenger car sales by estimated 40% and 20%, respectively.
This is despite falling metal prices, which may bring in some cost advantage. Maruti Suzuki is likely to see a 50% drop in profit after tax (PAT), as vehicle sales are expected to drop by 14%.

Ranbaxy is likely to be the worst performer in the Nifty, as it may report huge losses even though it may see a growth in revenue. While the rupee depreciation could add to the company’s export earnings, translational loss in forex borrowings, and increased interest rate cost could weigh heavy on net profit. The company may also experience a negative impact of loss of business in the US due to ban on its 30 drugs in the country.

Companies in the petroleum sector are expected to post contraction in revenue, following a sharp drop in crude oil prices. Oil price plummeted by nearly 55% in the third quarter. Petroleum refineries are likely to report contraction in refining margins. Companies like Reliance Industries (RIL) and ONGC could see a decline in their revenues as well as in net profits.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Third_quarter_may_be_the_worst_for_Nifty_cos/articleshow/3974932.cms

Infosys boost not enough for Sensex, down over 38 pts

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex on Tuesday failed to come out of the Satyam shock though software major Infosys recorded better earnings, and ended with a loss over 38 points.

The Sensex, which was down by nearly 1,050 points in the last two trading sessions after the Satyam fraud came to light and Wipro was debarred by the World Bank from bidding for projects, added another loss of 38.69 points, ending at 9,071.36.

The 50-share National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell by 28.15 points at 2,744.95, after hitting the day's low of 2,720.80 and a high of 2,802.60 points.

The key index dipped below 9,000 points and shuttled between 9,261.00 and 8,992.92 during the day. Every surge in the market was supported by market-heaviest Infosys Technologies, recording a profit of over 33 per cent during the last quarter ended December 31.

The IT sector index gained the most by rising 4.71 per cent at 2,147.69 as Infosys added 6.36 per cent, the most in two months. Second-largest software exporter Wipro rose by 6.05 per cent and Tata Consultancy 2.16 per cent as better earnings by Infosys boosted trading in IT stocks.

Trading sentiment was partially spooked by a fall in western stock markets and uncertainty over corporate results by blue-chip companies.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/ListingPage/ListingPage.aspx?Category=Chunk-HT-UI-BusinessSectionPage-Markets&SectionName=BusinessSectionPage&BC=Markets

India must continue to put pressure on Pak: Aamir


Mumbai: Actor-filmmaker Aamir Khan has supported India's initiative to put diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to destroy terror networks operating within its soil post the November 26 terror attacks here.


"India should continue to put consistent and strong pressure on Pakistan and the world community should also do so. It is wrong to hold the people of Pakistan responsible for actions of some elements existing within that country," Khan said.

These elements are not only creating trouble in India but also in Pakistan.

There is lot of warmth among the people of India and Pakistan and they should come together to destroy the elements responsible for such problems, the actor said while talking to reporters at the success party of his latest film 'Ghajini'.


Khan said earlier he was not aware that 'Ghajini' had released in Pakistan and was well received. "I am happy about it," he added.

Soruce: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/jan/130109-India-pressure-Pakistan-Mumbai-terror-attacks-AamirKhan.htm

Govt may cut fuel prices on Thursday

New Delhi: The government may on Thursday cut petrol, diesel and domestic LPG prices, besides freeing fuel pricing from administrative control, a petroleum ministry official said today.

The Cabinet, scheduled to meet on Thursday, may reduce petrol price by Rs 5 a litre, diesel by Rs 3 per litre and domestic LPG by Rs 25 per cylinder, giving relief to the common man and further easing inflationary pressures, he said.

State-run oil companies are currently making Rs 9.70 a litre profit on sale of petrol, Rs 3.70 a litre on diesel, but are loosing Rs 31.70 per LPG cylinder and Rs 11.69 on every litre of kerosene.

"There is also a proposal for freeing the retail fuel prices from administrative control after a mechanism to compensate for the losses on LPG and kerosene is devised," he said.

The government will mop up additional revenues by increasing excise duty on petrol and diesel by a minimum of Rs one per litre.

For losses on LPG and kerosene, the Cabinet may decide on issuing a Rs 30,000-crore additional oil bonds this fiscal.

Petrol and diesel prices were cut only in December by Rs 5 a litre and Rs 2 per litre, respectively, as global crude prices fell to four-year lows.

International oil prices have been hovering at that level for a while and have prompted the government to think of another round of price reduction.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/jan/130109-Govt-likely-to-slash-oil-prices-on-Thursday.htm

Sustained short build up drags Nifty futures into discount

MUMBAI: Although IT bellwether Infosys Technologies' Q3 earnings beat analyst expectations, the overall weakness across global markets weighed on the Indian stocks. In topsy-turvy trade Tuesday, Indian equities ended in the red for a fourth straight day.

National Stock Exchange's 50-share Nifty ended 1.02 per cent down at 2744 and Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensex managed to close above 9000 levels at 9071.36. down 0.42 per cent.

Nifty January futures provisionally settled at a huge discount of 20 points to spot. The discount remained unchanged from 20 on Monday. The contract price slipped 0.94 per cent while open interest added 19.21 lakh shares. The sell side was twice of that buy indicating short build up in the contract. The cost of carry was at -29.6 per cent.

Huge call buying was observed at 2800 call and some amount of buying was seen at 3000 call while unwinding of long calls was witnessed at 2900 strike. On the other hand, unwinding of longs was seen at 2800 and 2700 puts indicating profit booking from bears at lower levels. However, put writing at 2600 and 2500 will continue to act as a strong support zone for Nifty.

"Traders are directionless at current levels. Volatility will continue in the coming trading sessions. Although Infosys results beat analyst estimates, it failed to give the required boost to markets. News on disclosure standards at Siemens India has once again raised the issue of corporate governance in Indian companies. Given the options build up, Nifty has a strong support at 2600-2500 zones. At current levels, I will advise players to buy straddles at 2750 strike," said Aniket Dharmadhikari, fund manager at Krug and Bordman Advisory.

The oil and gas sector was badly hit as lower crude oil prices dragged upstream oil companies lower. Crude oil fell for a sixth day in New York, its longest decline in a month, on speculation that slumping demand caused US crude inventories to accumulate.


Infosys Technologies January futures jumped 6.72 per cent adding 10 lakh shares in open interest. In face of the severe global recession, Infosys Technologies Ltd on Tuesday posted a handsome year on year growth of 35.5 per cent in sales for the third quarter.

Reliance Industries slipped 1.88 per cent while open interest added 5 lakh shares indicating modest shorts being built in the contract. Rolta India slumped 21 per cent on rumors that its promoters have sold their stake. Bharti Airtel fell 2.63 per cent while open interest added 6.4 lakh shares.

Despite the persistent liquidity crunch, Unitech futures gained 2 per cent on short covering. Total F&O turnover on NSE was at Rs 44,953 crore, down 5 per cent from Monday.

Meanwhile, stocks declined in Europe and Asia for a fifth straight day, as slumping metals and oil prices dragged down commodity producers and Alcoa said demand for aluminum may continue to weaken.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Markets/articleshow/3973039.cms

Sensex ends volatile session flat; Wipro, Infy up

MUMBAI: Markets ended the choppy session on a flat note Tuesday due to lack of conviction even after positive results by Infosys Technologies. Broader markets were the worst hit as traders booked profits at higher levels.

Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensex closed at 9101.04, down 9.01 points or 0.10 per cent. The index breached 9000 mark to touch a low of 8992.92 and high of 9261 in intra-day trade.

National Stock Exchange’s Nifty ended at 2759.05, down 0.51 per cent or 14.05 points. The broader index touched an intra-day low of 2720.80 and high of 2802.60.

BSE Midcap Index was down 1.26 per cent and BSE Smallcap Index fell 1.41 per cent.

Wipro (7.32%), Infosys Technologies (6.36%), Ranbaxy Laboratories (5.82%), Tata Power (3.93%) and ACC (3.81%) were the major Sensex gainers.

Shares of Infosys Technologies surged after the company report better than expected numbers for quarter ended December. It reported 14.5 per cent jump in net profit at Rs 1641 crore against Rs 1432 crore (QoQ). Income stood at Rs 5786 crore vs Rs 5418 crore (QoQ). The EPS is Rs 28.63 per share.

Reliance Communications (-6.42%), HDFC (-3.80%), Tata Motors (-3.24%), Bharti Airtel (-3.06%) and ONGC (-2.92%) were Sensex losers.

Market breadth was negative on the BSE with 1551 declines and 854 advances

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Markets/Stocks/Sensex_ends_volatile_session_flat_Wipro_Infy_up/articleshow/3972735.cms

Serious Fraud Investigation Office probe into Satyam scam

NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday ordered the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), an entity that probes cases of economic offences of grave nature, to probe the Satyam case after receiving a preliminary report from the Registrar of Companies. ( Watch )

"The SFIO will look into the entire gambit of the scam and will submit its report within three months,” said minister of corporate affairs Prem Chand Gupta.

“Action will also be taken on auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers if they are found guilty,” said Gupta.

Last night, the Registrar of Companies, Hyderabad, submitted its report to the Centre on its preliminary probe into the Satyam scam. The RoC inspected the books of accounts of Satyam Computer and eight other companies belonging to the kin of the former chairman B Ramalinga Raju.

The SFIO was already assisting the RoC in the probe, but has now being formally handed over the investigations.

Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) had dispatched the SFIO team, consisting advisers and inspectors, to Hyderabad to assist RoC in the Satyam probe.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Govt_orders_fraud_probe_into_Satyam_scam/articleshow/3972278.cms

Wipro did nothing wrong: Premji to employees

NEW DELHI: Hours after World Bank made public that Wipro has been debarred from doing any business with the global lender, the company's chairman Azim Premji wrote to over 1,00,000 employees saying that the company had not done anything unethical.

Denying charges levelled by the World Bank that Wipro provided improper benefits to the staff, Premji said, "Let me reaffirm that Wipro was right from a legal as well as ethical standpoint. We believe what we did what was right and we did it in the right manner."

The company, in 2000, had provided staff option to purchase its American Depository Shares at IPO price through a Directed Share Programme.

However, the World Bank in June 2007 determined that this was a conflict of interest.

In an internal communication to the company's employees, Premji said, "We have always prided ourselves for setting the highest standards of business ethics in our dealings with all our stakeholders. We have built a strong culture which upholds compliance in letter and spirit. The approach was no different in this instance also."

The World Bank deemed the IT firm ineligible to bid for direct contracts from it for the period 2007-2011. The World Bank also named other companies that were barred from doing business it in a list made public yesterday.

Premji further explained that all participants in the Direct Share Programme signed a conflict of interest statement that their purchase did not violate any ethics or conflict of interest policies of their company.

Though the company maintained yesterday that the announcement will not have any impact on its revenues, its stock took a beating at the BSE yesterday. It, however, was trading 4.5 per cent up at Rs 237.6 on the BSE today.

Soruce: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/?in_leftnav

LeT behind Mumbai carnage: Britain

NEW DELHI: Britain on Tuesday asked Pakistan to take on Laskhar-e-Taiba, the architects of the Mumbai terror attacks, “frontally and politically” even as India again reminded Islamabad to bring the perpetrators of the terror attacks to justice and honour its anti-terror pledge.

“It's clear where the responsibility for the attack lies. Pakistan has a fundamental responsibility to tackle the roots of this problem,” Britain's foreign secretary David Milliband told reporters after talks with external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee.

“The responsibility of the Pakistan side is something we expect them to fulfill. Those who have been arrested must be brought to justice and, if found guilty, need to be punished,” Milliband replied at a joint press conference when asked about what action Pakistan needs to take in the aftermath of the Mumbai carnage for which India has blamed Pakistan-based elements.

“They need to be taken on politically in a frontal and clear manner,” Milliband, who began his four-day visit to India on Tuesday, said when asked about media reports indicating that the banned outfit Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a public front for LeT, has regrouped under a new banner.

Nearly a month ago, when British Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited India to express solidarity, he had named the LeT as the perpetrator of the coordinated assaults on Mumbai.

Milliband, however, ruled out the involvement of the Pakistani state in the Mumbai attacks. “I do not believe the attacks were directed by the Pakistani state,” Milliband replied when asked to comment on India's contention that official agencies of Pakistan were complicit in the Mumbai atrocity.

"It is important to say that. What is also important is the response of the Pakistani government to the LeT," he said while underlining that Pakistan needs to adopt "a multi-pronged approach" to tackle LeT and terrorism. "It is clear that the Pakistani apparatus have the fundamental responsibility to tackle the roots of this organization and to develop new strategies for doing so," Milliband stressed.

Asked about Pakistan's rejection of India's demand for handing over the Mumbai suspects to face Indian justice, Mukherjee replied: “Pakistan is obliged to implement all international commitments and resolutions against terrorism. Pakistan as a member of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) is required to implement the SAARC convention on terrorism.”

“I do hope that they act on materials and evidence we have given to them and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Mukherjee said.

"I do hope some of the fugitives will be handed over to India," he added.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lashkar_behind_Mumbai_terror_attacks_Britain/articleshow/3972449.cms