Key benchmark indices were trading higher in early trade on positive cues from the Asian market. At 9:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 160.05 points or 0.50% at 32,342.27. The Nifty 50 index was up 60.75 points or 0.60% at 10,157.15.
Among secondary barometers,the BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.29%. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.54%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
The broad market depicted strength. There were more than two gainers against every loser on BSE. 1,201 shares rose and 515 shares fell. A total of 66 shares were unchanged.
Overseas, Asian stocks were trading higher. Investors were cautious ahead of US and Chinese economic data as well as the Chinese Communist Party congress next week.
The US stock finished slightly lower on Thursday, even as Wall Street banks turned in generally upbeat results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.14%. The S&P 500 shed 0.17%, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.18%.
Back home, IT major TCS was up 0.21%. The company reported 8.57% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 6460 crore on 2.67% rise in total income to Rs 31360 crore in Q2 September 2017 over Q1 June 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 12 October 2017.
TCS said that strong revenue growth was visible across verticals in the Q2 September 2017. With the exception of Retail and CMI, all industry verticals grew above the company average, led by Travel & Hospitality (up 8% Q-o-Q), Energy & Utilities (up 7.2% Q-o-Q) and Life Sciences & Healthcare (up 3.6% Q-o-Q). On a year on year basis, all industry verticals - with the exception of BFSI and Retail - grew above 9.5%.
Growth was led by Europe (up 5.3% Q-o-Q), Latin America (up 5.7% Q-o-Q), APAC (up 3% Q-o-Q) and UK (up 2.5% Q-o-Q). North America grew by 1.4% Q-o-Q with continued softness in Banking and Retail, TCS said.
Commenting on the Q2 performance, Rajesh Gopinathan, CEO and MD, said: the company experienced robust volume growth in Q2, driven by good demand across multiple industry verticals. Large deal wins this quarter, a good pipeline, and bottoming out of the retail sector softness positions the company well, Rajesh Gopinathan said.
Canara Bank was up 0.26%. The bank launched a Tap Issuance of five year Medium Term Note (MTN) Bonds (issued earlier on 10 August 2017) to the extent of $200 million, through its London branch on 11 October 2017 value 17 October 2017 maturing on 10 August 2022. It is priced at five year US Treasury plus 119 basis points carrying a coupon of 3.25% fixed payable half yearly. The Bonds are listed in Singapore Stock Exchange and the funds raised are utilized for deploying in long term assets by the bank's foreign branches. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 12 October 2017.
Andhra Bank was up 0.63%. The bank said that it is issuing 7.98% unsecured, fully paid-up, non-convertible, redeemable, Basel III compliant , Tier - 2 bonds in the nature of debentures of Rs 10 lakh each for cash at par aggregating to Rs 1000 crore. The said issue will be opened for subscription on 24 October 2017 and will be closed on the same day, with the allotment date being 24 October 2017. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 12 October 2017.
Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri was up 1.02%. The company announced opening of 36th store and 5th franchise store at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh today, 13 October 2017. The announcement was made before market hours today, 13 October 2017.
Bharti Airtel was up 7.41% and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) (TTML) was up 9.95%. Telecom major Bharti Airtel and Tata, India's leading conglomerate, announced after market hours yesterday, 12 October 2017, that they have entered into an understanding to merge consumer mobile businesses (CMB) of Tata Teleservices (TTSL) and TTML into Bharti Airtel. The acquisition is subject to requisite regulatory approvals. As part of the agreement, Bharti Airtel will absorb Tata CMB's operations across the country in nineteen circles (17 under TTSL and 2 under TTML). These circles represent bulk of India's population and customer base.
The proposed merger will include transfer of all the customers and assets of Tata CMB to Bharti Airtel, further augmenting Bharti Airtel's overall customer base and network. The merger is being done on a debt-free cash-free basis, except for Bharti Airtel assuming a small portion of the unpaid spectrum liability of Tata's towards the DoT, which is to be paid on deferred basis. The employees of Tata will be demerged on the lines of the two businesses i.e. CMB and EFL (enterprise and fixed line and broadband), and post an optimal manpower planning will be moved accordingly. Tata will retain its stake in Viom, and will take care of the liabilities associated with it.
Separately, Bharti Airtel said that its board approved the scheme of amalgamation between Tikona Digital Networks Private Limited and Bharti Airtel Limited and their respective shareholders and creditors.
Shriram EPC was up 14.32%. The company has won multiple orders aggregating Rs 349 crore. The first order amounting to Rs 311 crore from Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation involves improvement of water supply system in Gaya Municipal Corporation. The second order amounting to Rs 38 crore is from Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development & Finance Corporation and entails construction of pipeline, overhead tank and distribution network at Byadgi along with operations and maintenance. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 12 October 2017.
Ruby Mills was up 3.22%. The company said that Bharat Shah has been granted a bail by the sessions court Thane on 10 October 2017 and he was released on 12 October 2017. On 3rd August 2017, the company had informed about the arrest of Bharat Shah, Managing Director of the company by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 12 October 2017.
On the macro front, India's industrial production improved at five months high pace of 4.3% in August 2017 over August 2016, while showing sharp improvement in growth from 0.9% increase in July 2017. The manufacturing sectors production improved 3.1% in August 2017, snapping decline in output for last two straight months. The electricity generation increased at improved pace of 8.3% and mining output also gained 4.3% in August 2017. The growth for July 2017 has been revised downwards to 0.9% from 1.2% reported earlier. The data was unveiled after market hours yesterday, 12 October 2017.
The all-India general consumer price index (CPI) inflation was flat at 3.28% in September 2017 compared with 3.28% in August 2017, after rising for last two months from 1.5% in June 2017. The data was unveiled after market hours yesterday, 12 October 2017.
The Election Commission (EC) yesterday, 12 October 2017, announced elections in Himachal Pradesh, but held off on making an announcement for Gujarat. Voting for the 68-seat Himachal Pradesh assembly will take place on 9 November 2017 and the results will be declared on 18 December 2017. Gujarat polls, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A K Joti reportedly said, will be announced later, but he added voting will wind up before Himachal results are declared. While Gujarat Assembly's term ends on 22 January 2018, Himachal Pradesh's finishes on 7 January 2018. The EC normally holds elections together in states where the incumbent governments are completing their five-year term within six months. The poll dates for these states are announced simultaneously.
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