Thursday 16 January 2014

Benchmarks end lacklustre trade on a flat note

Thursday turned out to be a lackluster session for the Indian benchmark indices as frontline gauges traded in an extremely tight range hardly budging from the psychological 6,300 (Nifty) and 21,250 (Sensex) levels. Markets witnessed consolidation during the day’s trade as investors booked some profit garnered in previous session. Nevertheless, benchmarks made positive start as sentiments remained up-beat after the World Bank in its latest report highlighted that India’s economy is expected to grow by 6.2% in 2014 and 7.1 percent by 2016-17 as global demand recovers and domestic investment increases. Some support came in from Finance minister P Chidambaram expressing confidence of India getting on the high growth path in the next three years and attributing the decline in growth rate to global factors. However, investors remained on sidelines ahead of TCS third quarter earnings scheduled to be announced later today.

Global cues too remained choppy with European equities edging lower in early deals after climbing to a 5-1/2-year high in the previous session, with poor sales number from Dutch grocer Ahold and a cautious outlook from Dixons hurting retailers. Moreover, Asian equity counter retreated from their high level and ended mixed, despite better than expected core machine orders from Japan which jumped a seasonally adjusted 9.3 percent on month in November to 882.6 billion yen.

Back home, sentiments also remained dampened after telecom stocks tumbled, as the surprise decision of Reliance Industries (RIL) to join the bidding for upcoming telecom spectrum auction slated for February 3, 2014 raised concerns of aggressive bidding in the auction which in turn could have an adverse impact on balance sheet of telecom firms. Moreover, stocks related to sugar space too remained under selling pressure despite an informal group of ministers (GoM), headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, approving incentives to the industry for exports of up to 40 lakh tonnes of raw sugar for two years.

However, the down-side remained capped on reports that government officials have indicated that the fiscal deficit will be below 4.8 per cent of GDP and it may come down to 4.65%. Some support also came in after rating agency Moody’s said that India's sovereign downgrade is not on the cards.

The NSE’s 50-share broadly followed index Nifty ended lower by two points and managed to hold psychological 6,300 level, while Bombay Stock Exchange’s sensitive Index -- Sensex dropped over twenty points and ended below the psychological 21,250 mark.

Moreover, the broader markets too struggled to get any traction and ended the session in the red. The market breadth remained in favour of decliners, as there were 1,169 shares on the gaining side against 1,510 shares on the losing side, while 166 shares remained unchanged.

Finally, the BSE Sensex declined by 24.31 points or 0.11%, to settle at 21265.18, while the CNX Nifty lost 2.00 points or 0.03% to settle at 6,318.90.

The BSE Sensex touched a high and a low of 21379.29 and 21199.65, respectively. The BSE Mid cap index was down by 0.12%, while the Small cap index lost 0.26%.

The top gainers on the Sensex were Coal India up 2.56%, Hindalco Inds up 1.85%, Wipro up 1.84%, HDFC up 1.80% and BHEL up by 1.74%, on the flip side Bharti Airtel  down 4.84%, Tata Motors down 1.86%, Sun Pharma  down 1.72%, ONGC  down 1.48 % and Cipla  down by 1.29 %, were the top losers on the index.

On the BSE Sectoral front Metal up by 1.75%, IT up by 0.56%, Capital Goods up by 0.25%, PSU up by 0.25%, and Realty up by 0.23%, were the top gainers, while Auto down by 0.84%, FMCG down by 0.80%, Healthcare down by 0.57%, Oil & Gas down by 0.31% and Bankex down by 0.21%, were the top losers on the sectoral front.

Meanwhile, in order to secure Indian banks from the impact of unhedged foreign currency exposure of corporate, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked the domestic lenders to calculate the incremental provisioning for them to entities with unhedged exposure at least once in a quarter. Meanwhile, the calculation should be done on monthly basis during periods of high US Dollar-INR volatility.

Highlighting that unhedged foreign currency exposures of the entities has become an area of concern not only for an individual entity but also for the entire financial system, the central bank has noted that extent of corporates’ unhedged foreign currency exposures continues to be significant and is increasing the probability of default in times of high currency volatility. Conversely, Reserve Bank also suggested the entities to hedge foreign currency exposure as unhedged exposure can lead to significant losses for them due to exchange rate movements. Corporates’ losses reduce their capacity to service the loans taken from the banking system and thereby affect the health of the banking system.

However, the RBI had earlier also issued norms suggesting banks to closely monitor the unhedged foreign currency exposures of their borrowing clients and also factor this risk into the pricing.

The CNX Nifty touched a high and low of 6,346.50 and 6,299.85 respectively.

The top gainers on the Nifty were HCL Technologies up by 4.63%, Coal India up by 2.52%, UltraTech Cement up by 2.45%, Hindalco Industries up by 2.03%, and Wipro up by 1.75%, On the other hand, Bharti Airtel down by 4.96%, Tata Motors down by 2.05%, ONGC down by 1.49%, Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries down by 1.49%, and Ranbaxy Laboratories down by 1.48%, were the top losers.

AXIS Bank reports 19% rise in Q3 net profit

AXIS Bank has reported results for third quarter ended December 31, 2013.

The bank has reported 19.06% rise in its net profit at Rs 1604.11 crore for the quarter as compared to Rs 1347.22 crore for the same quarter in the previous year. Total income of the bank has increased by 9.94% at Rs 9433.55 crore for quarter under review as compared to Rs 8580.30 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2012.

The bank’s gross NPA for the December 31, 2013 quarter of the current fiscal stood at 1.25%, as compared to 1.10% in the same quarter of the previous year. Besides, bank’s Net NPA stood at 0.42% as compared to 0.33% in the same quarter of the previous year.

Fortis Healthcare launches state of the art, multi super-specialty hospital in Ludhiana

Fortis Healthcare (Fortis), India’s largest and fastest growing private healthcare player, has launched its state of the art, 260 bed green-field hospital in Ludhiana. The multi super-specialty facility underscores the significant commitment by Fortis to bridge the gap for quality healthcare services in the region. The Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab inaugurated the hospital.

At a separate ceremony, the Deputy Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for Fortis La Femme, yet another green-field facility that will come up in the Ludhiana city, by 2016. Located on the Mall Road, this will be a 100 bed Centre for Women, dedicated to meet their medical needs through various stages of their life.

Fortis has committed significant investments in creating capacity of over 1,000 beds in Punjab. These include the newly commissioned hospital in Ludhiana; existing facilities in Mohali and Amritsar; the soon to be launched Fortis Cancer Institute in Mohali and the green-field project, Fortis La Femme in Ludhiana. 

Bajaj Auto shines on reporting 10.48% rise in Q3 net profit

Bajaj Auto has reported results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2013.

The company has reported 10.48% rise in its net profit at Rs 904.55 crore for the quarter as compared to Rs 818.74 crore for the same quarter in the previous year. However, total income from operations of the company has decreased by 5.20% at Rs 5131.24 crore for quarter under review as compared to Rs 5412.71 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2012.

Bajaj Auto is a $2.3 billion company founded in 1926. It is world’s fourth largest two and three-wheeler manufacturer. Bajaj Auto has three plants in all, two at Waluj and Chakan in Maharashtra and one plant at Pant Nagar in Uttaranchal.

KEC International soars on bagging multiple orders worth Rs 1,215 crore

KEC International is currently trading at Rs. 56.75, up by 1.60 points or 2.90% from its previous closing of Rs 55.15 on the BSE.

The scrip opened at Rs. 55.40 and has touched a high and low of Rs. 58.70 and Rs. 55.40 respectively. So far 2,07,000 shares were traded on the counter.

The BSE group 'B' stock of face value Rs. 2 has touched a 52 week high of Rs. 68.95 on 16-Jan-2013 and a 52 week low of Rs. 23.25 on 04-Sep-2013.

Last one week high and low of the scrip stood at Rs. 56.90 and Rs. 54.25 respectively. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 1,455 crore.

The promoters holding in the company stood at 48.16% while Institutions and Non-Institutions held 35.78% and 16.06% respectively.

KEC International (KEC), a global infrastructure EPC major, an RPG Group company has secured new orders of Rs 1,215 crore in its Transmission and Cables businesses. In the Transmission business, the company has secured orders in Saudi Arabia, Americas, Bhutan, Nepal and India amounting to Rs 1,148 crore.

In Saudi Arabia, the company has received order for design, supply and construction of 380 kV double circuit overhead transmission lines. The order is secured from the Saudi Electricity Company and the order value is Rs 708 crore. In Americas, the company’s wholly owned subsidiary SAE Towers has secured orders for the supply of lattice towers, monopoles and hardware from the United States, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. The total value of orders is Rs 196 crore. In Bhutan, the company has received order for supply and construction of 400 kV double circuit transmission line in Wangdue to Jigmeling in Sarpang, Bhutan. The order is secured from the Bhutan Power Corporation and the order value is Rs 180 crore.

In Nepal, the company has received order for design, supply and construction of 132 kV transmission line in Lamahi, Dang, Nepal. The order is secured from the Nepal Electricity Authority and the order value is Rs 32 crore. In India, the company has received order for supply and erection of 400 kV double circuit transmission line between Sagardighi - Behrampore in West Bengal. The order is secured from the Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) and the order value is Rs 32 crore.

In Cables business, the Company has secured orders worth Rs 67 crore for the supply of Power and Telecom Cables.

LIC Housing Finance reports 38% rise in Q3 net profit

LIC Housing Finance has reported results for third quarter ended December 31, 2013.

The company has reported 38.24% rise in its net profit at Rs 326.58 crore for the quarter as compared to Rs 236.24 crore for the same quarter in the previous year. Total income of the company has increased by 21.55% at Rs 2376.36 crore for quarter under review as compared to Rs 1954.96 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2012.

LIC Housing Finance is the second largest housing finance player in India. It has one of the widest networks of over 205 offices across the country and representative offices at Dubai & Kuwait.

L&T in talks with strategic buyers to sell stake in Tamil Nadu terminal: Report

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is reportedly in talks with many strategic buyers including some Japanese port operators for a stake sale in its container terminal in Tamil Nadu. The company is looking at an enterprise value of Rs 2,300- Rs 2,500 crore. Though, the equity valuation of the port may be Rs 800- Rs 1,000 crore.

L&T holds 97% stake in Kattupalli International Container Terminal, a port-cum-shipyard complex developed jointly with state government entity TIDCO, which holds the remaining stake.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is a technology, engineering, construction and manufacturing company. It is one of the largest and most respected companies in India's private sector. More than seven decades of a strong, customer-focused approach and the continuous quest for world-class quality have enabled it to attain and sustain leadership in all its major lines of business.

South Indian Bank reports 10% rise in Q3 net profit

South Indian Bank has reported results for third quarter ended December 31, 2013.

The bank has reported 10.18% rise in its net profit at Rs 141.31 crore for the quarter as compared to Rs 128.25 crore for the same quarter in the previous year. Total income of the bank has increased by 11.79% at Rs 1334.74 crore for quarter under review as compared to Rs 1193.91 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2012.

The bank’s gross NPA for the December 31, 2013 quarter of the current fiscal stood at 1.66%, as compared to 1.62% in the same quarter of the previous year. Besides, bank’s Net NPA stood at 1.18% as compared to 0.68% in the same quarter of the previous year.

Indian economy likely to grow over 6 percent in 2014-15: World Bank

As per the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report, Indian economy is likely to grow over 6 percent rate in 2014-15 and increase to 6.6 percent in FY2015-16 and 7.1 percent in FY2016-17 on the back of recovery in global demand and increasing domestic investments. The report noted that during the previous year, India, with large current account and fiscal deficits and weaker growth, was hit hard mainly due to withdrawal of foreign investments, resulting into steep fall in rupee value against the dollar. Back then, rupee had subsequently appreciated because of policy interventions to support foreign exchange markets, capital flows and equity markets and delayed QE tapering. However, World Bank cautioned that a sharp withdrawal of foreign capital in the future could increase risk of corporate debt distress, while recapitalization of public sector banks can put pressure on the Government’s fiscal positions.

Referring to the growth in South Asia, the report highlighted that weaker growth in India, several years of rising inflation and current account deficits have opened up a large negative output gap, which is projected to gradually close on account of the improving economy. The regional growth is expected to strengthen to 5.7 percent in 2014 and about 6.7 percent in 2016, however, growth in South Asia is estimated to remain weak at 4.6 percent in 2013. Further, the World Bank highlighted that the global economy is projected to strengthen this year, as growth will be picking up in developing countries and high-income economies, however, downside risks continue to threaten the global economic recovery. The report further added that the global economic indicators show improvement with the European countries looking out of recession.

Regarding the performance of advanced economies, the World Bank’s report noted that advanced economies are gaining momentum, which will also support the growth in developing countries in the coming future. However, the World Bank expressed the need for developing nations to adopt structural reforms that promote job creation, strengthen financial systems and shore up social safety nets.

Bajaj Finance acquires 962,204 customers in Q3FY14

Bajaj Finance has acquired 962,204 customers in Q3FY14, a rise of 15% as compared to 833,280 customers acquired during Q3FY13. The company has launched 7 more branches and 28 more business correspondents in its rural lending business taking the total to 70 towns and villages in rural Maharashtra.

Bajaj Finance, a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv, is engaged in the business of consumer finance, SME finance and commercial lending. Bajaj Finserv proposes to convert Bajaj Finance into a bank as per the Reserve Bank of India’s February 2013 guidelines.

The company has reported 20.59% rise in its net profit at Rs 194.14 crore for third quarter ended December 31, 2013 as compared to Rs 160.09 crore for the same quarter in the previous year. Total income of the company has increased by 30.63% at Rs 1081.90 crore for quarter under review as compared to Rs 828.23 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2012.

ICICI Bank opens new branch in Jharkhand: Report

ICICI Bank, India's largest private sector bank, has reportedly opened a new branch at Golmuri in Jamshedpur in Jharkhand. The branch will remain open for customers from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Monday to Friday and 9.00 am to 2.00 pm on Saturday. The branch will offer the entire gamut of its products including a comprehensive range of deposits, loans and NRI services to cater to different customer profiles and needs.

ICICI Bank is India's largest private sector bank and the second largest bank in the country, with consolidated total assets of $122 billion at December 31, 2012. The Bank’s presence currently spans 19 countries, including India.

DCB Bank’s branch network stood at 115 branches as on Q3FY14

DCB Bank’s branch network increased to 115 branches from 103 branches in 65 locations as on December 31, 2013. The banks CASA ratio as on December 31, 2013 was at 25% as against 29% as on December 31, 2012.

The bank’s Net Interest Margin (NIM) for Q3 FY2014 stands at 3.55% as against 3.38% for Q3 FY2013 and 3.68% in Q2 FY2014.

DCB Bank is a modern emerging new generation private sector bank with 115 branches across 16 states and 2 union territories. It is a scheduled commercial bank regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.

Reliance Broadcast Network ends JV with CBS Studios International

Reliance Broadcast Network (RBNL) has ended its joint venture (JV) with the Los Angeles-based CBS Studios International after shutting down Big CBS Prime, Big CBS Love and Big CBS Spark -- three channels the company had launched in India between 2010 and 2011. The three channels went off air between June and November 2013.

The decision to shut down the business was taken mutually after a review of the company’s portfolio of niche English channels. While Big CBS Prime, an English entertainment channel, aired programmes such as Dexter and America's Got Talent, Big Love was targeted at women and Big Spark catered to young audiences.

Reliance Broadcast Network has a multi media play in the spaces of radio, television and intellectual property, out of home and television products and specializes in creating and executing integrated solutions for clients, across the country.

L&T Hydrocarbon bags orders worth Rs 1000 crore

L&T Hydrocarbon has secured new orders of Rs 1000 crore from the domestic market in its offshore and onshore business sectors.The major order is an offshore contract from the BG Exploration and Production India (BGEPIL) valued around Rs 700 crore, The contract, won against international competitive bidding, encompasses total Engineering Procurement Construction and Installation of one wellhead platform and subsea pipe laying (30 Kms), spread over the Panna-Mukta fields of joint venture - ONGC-RIL-BGEPIL.

The project, part of the joint venture's strategy to boost production to meet India's rising energy demands, is scheduled to be completed by March, 2015. In addition to conventional wellhead facilities, the scope also includes installation of piggy back pipeline on the infield pipeline from an existing PPA Host Complex.

In the onshore sector, L&T Hydrocarbon has also won an additional order of Rs 300 crore for construction, from a leading refinery in India.

CCI clears Reliance Power’s Jharkhand UMPP proposal

Reliance Power has received Cabinet Committee on Investment’s (CCI) approval for its Tilaiya ultra mega power project in Jharkhand. Tilaiya power plant is likely to be accomplished by Jharkhand Integrated Power, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) which was handed over to Reliance Power in January 2009 by Power Finance Corporation -- the nodal agency for UMPPs.

Tilaiya would be the fourth UMPP to be awarded to a developer. Earlier, two UMPPs bagged by Reliance Power are those of Sasan (Madhya Pradesh) and Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). Tata Power is operating the Mundra UMPP in Gujarat.

Reliance Power is a part of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and is established to develop, construct and operate power projects domestically and internationally.

Jet Airways to reintroduce service to New York

In a bid to expand its global network, Jet Airways is planning to re-launch service to New York in May with a stopover in Abu Dhabi. Last year, the airline stopped its India-New York service on account of losses and code shares with Brussels Airlines on the transatlantic leg of this route.

In April 2013, Jet Airways and Etihad entered into strategic alliance and the two entities will use Abu Dhabi as a gateway to launch additional services to Europe, Africa and the US.

Jet Airways currently operates a fleet of 113 aircraft, which include 10 Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, 8 Airbus A330-200 aircraft, 4 Airbus A330-300 aircraft, 73 next generations Boeing 737-700/800/900/900 ER aircraft and 15 ATR 72-500 and 3 ATR72-600.

JSW Steel’s promoter entity hikes stake in the company to 5.43%

JSW Investments, a promoter group firm of JSW Steel, has raised stake in the steel maker by 0.10% to 5.43% for Rs 24.68 crore. The promoter entity bought 1.5 lakh shares on January 10 for Rs 15.39 crore, and 91,000 shares on January 13 for Rs 9.29 crore.

Following these transactions, JSW Investments hold 5.43% stake or 1.3 crore shares in the firm, as on January 14.

JSW Steel is part of the JSW group which, in turn, is a part of the O P Jindal group. JSW Steel is one of the largest steel manufacturing companies in India having units in Karnataka and Maharashtra producing crude steel, long steel and flat steel products.

India to gradually get back to high growth path: P. Chidambaram

Hinting further cuts in government spending, the finance minister, P. Chidambaram exuded confidence that India's fiscal deficit will be contained at 4.8 percent of the gross domestic product in the current fiscal year ending March 2014. Finance Minister was also confident that economy will gradually get back to high growth path in the next three years as and when the global economy recovers and as new measures show effect.

However, the FM acknowledged the current slowdown of the economy and attributed this to the slowdown across the world. India’s economic India's economic growth slipped to decade low of 5 per cent in 2012-13 and in the current fiscal is estimated to be around the same level. Interestingly, the economy grew at envious pace of 9% before global crisis of 2008.

Additionally, FM asserted that revised growth estimates for 2012-13 were likely to be better than the earlier projections. The government is scheduled to announce the revised growth estimates for 2012-13 on January 31 and the advance estimates for the current fiscal on February 7. Lastly, on the Current Account Deficit (CAD) front, Chidambaram asserted it to be contained at $50 billion in the current fiscal. The same soared to the all-time high of $88.2 billion or 4.8 per cent of the GDP in 2012-13.

HCL Technologies gains on forming strategic partnership with CSC

HCL Technologies, a leading global IT services provider, has formed a strategic partnership with CSC, a global leader in next-generation IT services and solutions, to address the substantial market opportunity created by the need for enterprise clients to modernize their applications and transition to the cloud. HCL and CSC will create a world-class application modernization delivery network to enable enterprises to shift from legacy technologies to a cloud-enabled platform. The first delivery centers will be launched in Bangalore and Chennai. These delivery centers will lower the risks and costs for clients transitioning to the cloud.

The joint application modernization offering will be enhanced with vertical specific initiatives starting with Banking & Financial services through the creation of a banking center of excellence. The partnership will be standardizing the delivery of modernized applications and enable them to be brokered onto any cloud environment, using platforms such as CSC's ServiceMesh. According to Gartner's 2014 Market Forecast for IT Services the addressable market for applications services is $210 billion in 2014. The strategic partnership addresses what we believe to be one of the fastest growing segments of the applications services market.

CSC's next-gen technology solutions coupled with the technology consulting, systems integration and global delivery capabilities of HCL will offer a new value proposition in the market. This value proposition will create a roadmap for bringing legacy products into next gen solutions and execution excellence leading to an optimized business case for application modernization for customers.

GAIL India to import 3.5 MT LNG in 2014-15

GAIL India, the state-owned gas utility will import 1.5 million tonnes (MT) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) via term contracts and buy 30 to 35 spot cargoes of nearly 2 MT during 2014-2015. The company has already started discussions with potential buyers for LNG from the US and is prioritizing buyers from the fertilizer and power sectors.

In 2017-18, the company will be receiving 6 MT LNG a year and will be selling the entire volume in the domestic market.

GAIL is India's flagship natural gas company integrating all aspects of the natural gas value chain including exploration and production, processing, transmission, distribution and marketing and related services.

Oriental Carbon & Chemicals suspends operations of its SEZ Unit at Mundra

Oriental Carbon & Chemicals has suspended operations of its SEZ Unit located at Mundra. The company plans to approach the apex court shortly seeking necessary redressal in this respect.

The company has taken this step after the Gujarat High Court pronounced an order on January 13, 2014 in a PIL against Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), located in Mundra, Kutch district and all manufacturing units therein - where the company has its SEZ Unit - to temporarily stop operations till the APSEZ receives environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment & Forest (MoEF).

Oriental Carbon & Chemicals produces wide range of insoluble sulfur grades (Including Pre-dispersed & Master batches), which are being widely exported to leading tyre companies around the world.

GHCL’s Trust sells 17,735 shares of the company

GHCL’s - GHCL Employees Stock Option Trust has sold 17,735 equity shares of the company in the open market in trenches between January 06, 2014 to January 13, 2014. Further, the Trust has sold its entire holding except the shares, which are part of litigation and the same may be sold by Trust depending upon the outcome of the litigation. Hence, the Trust will continue for the limited purpose of litigation.

GHCL is a leading producer of synthetic soda ash in India with an installed capacity of 8.5 lakh tonnes Per Annum (TPA) located in Gujarat. Over the years, it has diversified into yarn and home textile products. While its yarn division, with an installed capacity of 1,48,280 spindles, is located in Tamil Nadu, the home textile plant with a weaving capacity of 25,000 meter per day and processing capacity of 1 lakh meter per day for home-textiles (bed sheets and curtain panels) is located at Vapi (Gujarat).

Markets to extend the gains with a positive start

The Indian markets rejoiced in last session the lower than expected inflation numbers that raised the hopes of RBI keeping a status quo in its upcoming monetary policy review. Today, the start is likely to be in green and the markets will extend the rally mood with Finance minister P Chidambaram expressing confidence of India getting on the high growth path in the next three years and attributing the decline in growth rate to global factors. Also, the World Bank in its latest report has said that India's economy is expected to grow by 6.2% in 2014 and 7.1 percent by 2016-17 as global demand recovers and domestic investment increases. There will be some buzz in the India Inc. as the Reserve Bank in a notification has said that establishments from Hong Kong and Macau will require its prior approval to set up business or related activities in India. Meanwhile, RBI has tightened provisioning norms for unhedged forex exposure and has asked lenders to calculate the incremental provisioning of such securities at least once in a quarter. PSU banks are likely to be under pressure on report that there will be no relaxation in the Finance Ministry directive that public sector banks must apply for an insurance broking licence to sell policies of multiple insurers.

Today, there will be lots of important result announcements to keep the markets buzzing. Axis Bank, Bajaj Auto, D B CORP, Gruh Finance, HCL Tech, Indowind Energy, KRBL, LIC Housing Finance, Mindtree, Rallis India and TCS are among the many to announce their numbers.

The US markets extended their rally mood on Wednesday with S&P 500 surging to a new record high on the back of some upbeat earnings news from financial giant Bank of America, coupled with improvement in the World Bank’s expectations of the global economic growth. Most of the Asian markets have made a green start on good global growth outlook after a set of robust US data.

Back home, Indian equity benchmarks exhibited a strong performance on Wednesday with frontline gauges garnering gain of over a percentage point. There was broad based buying witnessed in the markets and apart from the blue chips, the broader indices too participated in the rally. Both the benchmarks scaled past the psychological levels of 21,250 (Sensex) and 6,300 (Nifty). Sentiments remained up-beat since beginning as key bourses opened with a decent gap on upside amid firm global cues. Markets gained more strength, as India’s main inflation gauge, based on monthly WPI, cooled more than expectations at 6.16% for the month of December as against 7.52% (Provisional) for the previous month of November. This figure was way lower than street’s expectations of 7.00%. However, October inflation was revised upwards to 7.24% against 7% earlier. Supportive cues from US markets provided the much-needed support to local markets in early deals, moreover, Asian equity benchmarks ended mostly in the green. Back home, sentiments also got bolstered after Yes Bank reported better-than-expect third quarter numbers. The bank reported 21.41% rise in its net profit at Rs 415.60 crore for the quarter as compared to Rs 342.31 crore for the same quarter in the previous year. Total income of the bank increased by 18.60% at Rs 2902.00 crore for quarter under review as compared to Rs 2446.83 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2012. On the currency front, Indian rupee marginally appreciated and traded at 61.50 per dollar at the time of equity markets closing, as compared to its previous close of 61.52 per dollar. Meanwhile, rate sensitive counters like Banking, Realty and Auto all surged after WPI which eased to a 5-month low, raised hopes that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would maintain status quo on key policy rates for the second straight month at its policy review meet end-January. Finally, the BSE Sensex surged by 256.61 points or 1.22%, to settle at 21289.49, while the CNX Nifty gained 79.05 points or 1.27% to settle at 6,320.90.