Dabur India slides as Q2 EBITDA margin declines

Dabur India fell 2.15% to Rs 129.80 on BSE after the company's earnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, margin declined in Q2 September 2012. The company announced the results during trading hours today, 26 October 2012. Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex fell 133.29 points or 0.71%, to 18,625.34. On BSE, 3.74 lakh shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 1.32 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 135.80 and a low of Rs 127.25 so far during the day. The stock had hit a record high of Rs 138.65 on 16 October 2012. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 92.05 on 1 February 2012. The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 25 October 2012, surging 6.42% compared with the Sensex's 0.34% rise. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, jumping 14.8% as against Sensex's 11.35% rise. The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 174.29 crore. Face value per share is Re 1. Dabur India's consolidated net profit rose 16.39% to Rs 202.37 crore on 21.15% growth in total income to Rs 1550.08 crore in Q2 September 2012 over Q2 September 2011. The company's EBITDA margin declined to 19.2% in Q2 September 2012 from 20.5% in Q2 September 2011. Dabur India said a combination of innovation, relentless market development initiatives and stronger growth across key categories like health supplements, shampoos, food, skin care and home care aided revenue growth in Q2 September 2012. Commenting on the results, Dabur India's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sunil Duggal said: "The rising cost pressures were managed through a mix of judicious price increases and improved buying efficiencies. Despite signs of an economic downturn and increased competitive intensity in the market, Dabur India has maintained strong growth momentum and continues to register sales growth ahead of the market in several key categories. We remain on course to strengthen our brand portfolio, improve our competitiveness in the market place and deliver profitable growth." The company said the shampoo category continued to move forward on its strong growth trajectory and ended the quarter with a 40.2% growth, while the Skin Care business - riding on Fem - reported a near 25% growth. The Home Care business ended the quarter with a 23% growth while the Health Supplements business grew by 15.7%. The quarter saw Dabur launch a host of new products and variants across geographies, all of which have received good response, the company said in a statement. Dabur's International Business recorded a growth of 24.8% during the second quarter, led by robust performance in GCC, Egypt and Nigeria. "Hair Care and Toothpastes were the key growth drivers for Dabur in the international markets," Dabur India Group Director Mr. P D Narang said. Dabur India is one of India's leading FMCG companies. The company is also a world leader in ayurveda with a portfolio of over 250 herbal/ayurvedic products. Dabur today operates in key consumer products categories like hair care, oral care, health care, skin care, home care and foods.

BSE Small-Cap, Mid-Cap indices slide over 1% each

Key benchmark indices logged small declines in the week ended Friday, 26 October 2012 weighed by global growth jitters. The market logged gains in two of four trading sessions in a truncated week. The BSE Mid-Cap and Small-Cap indices shed over 1% each. Among stock-specific activity, shares of private sector banking giant ICICI Bank hit 52-week high. India's largest engineering and construction firm by sales L&T struck a 52-week high. Leading tractor maker M&M scaled a record high. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have bought shares worth net Rs 12006.60 crore in October 2012 so far (till 23 October 2012). They had purchased shares worth net Rs 19261.50 crore in September 2012. FIIs have bought shares worth net Rs 94337.40 crore in calendar 2012 so far (till 23 October 2012). FIIs offloaded shares worth a net Rs 2714.20 crore in 2011.

Cairn India - All in One

 Cairn India - All in One

India Property, Oberoi Realty, Mahindra Life

 India Property, Oberoi Realty, Mahindra Life

Larsen and Toubro

 Larsen and Toubro 

Idea Cellular

 Idea Cellular

Profit booking, global cues drag Nifty below 5700

The Indian markets were knocked down in today’s trade, after witnessing a sharp fall in afternoon trade. The Sensex declined 83 points and the Nifty ended 26 points lower. Major Headlines of the day: Lupin Q2 FY2013 profits better than expected Yes Bank Q2 net profit jumps 30% L&T Finance Holdings zooms in dull market

Bullions shed more than 1% at Comex

Gold settles at their lowest level since early September Bullion metal prices ended substantially lower on Tuesday, 24 October 2012 at Comex. Gold futures closed sharply lower on Tuesday to settle at their lowest level since early September as downbeat corporate-earnings reports prompted investors to flee equities and commodities and seek safety in the U.S. dollar. Gold for December delivery dropped $16.90, or 1%, to settle at $1,709.40 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices fell by as much as $21 to a low $1,705.10 during the Comex session. December silver futures settled down 46 cents, or 1.4%, to $31.79 an ounce.

Copper turns pale

prices hit by a strong dollar and lack of robust demand Copper prices at Comex slid to a six-week low on Tuesday, 24 October 2012 hit by a strong dollar and lack of robust demand from top metals consumer China as the market gave up more gains from its September rally. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange traded lower by $93 (1.7%) at $7,860, down from $7,953 at the close on Monday. Earlier it dropped to an intraday low of $7,859.50. December copper closed down 5 cents, or 1.5%, to $3.57 a pound at Comex. US stocks traded sharply lower on Tuesday. As per latest reports, DuPont plans to cut 1,500 employees after reporting a quarterly profit below estimates. Two other Dow components added to investor worries. 3M declined 3.9% after the manufacturer reported a 6.7% profit gain in the third quarter, but reduced its outlook for the full year. Also, United Technologies pointed to soft demand from airlines in narrowing its sales outlook for 2012. Investors were cautious ahead of the Fed's two-day meeting which began on Tuesday, though the central bank is likely to hold off from fresh steps, opting to review the impact of action it took last month. Further weighing on the market was a stronger dollar against the euro, which makes dollar-priced commodities more expensive to Europeans, and losses on equities markets. The dollar index, which weighs the strength of the dollar against a basket of six other currencies, rose by almost 0.4% today.

ITC slides as Govt notifies new pictorial health warnings

Key benchmark edged lower in choppy trade on weak global equities. The barometer index, BSE Sensex, lost 83.42 points or 0.44%, off close to 105 points from the day's high and up about 20 points from the day's low. The market breadth was negative. Index heavyweight and cigarette maker ITC extended Monday's losses triggered by an announcement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that it has notified new pictorial health warnings to be depicted on tobacco product packs which will come into effect from 1 April 2013. Another index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) also edged lower. Yes Bank surged after strong Q2 results. The Sensex has fallen 52.72 points or 0.28% in October 2012 so far (till 23 October 2012). The Sensex has surged 3,255.10 points or 21.06% in calendar 2012 so far (till 23 October 2012). From a 52-week high of 19,137.29 on 5 October 2012, the Sensex has declined 427.27 points or 2.23%. From a 52-week low of 15,135.86 on 20 December 2011, the Sensex has risen 3,574.16 points or 23.61%.

Daily News Roundup - Oct 23 2012

Within two months of cutting rates on home and auto loans by 25-50 basis points, the State Bank of India is seeing a major growth in these segments. While home loan applications have nearly tripled, demand for auto loans has risen four-fold. (ET) L&T Finance Holdings Limited said it has acquired Family Credit, a non-banking finance company promoted by France's Societe Generale Consumer, for Rs1.2bn. (ET) Hero MotoCorp is going all out to cash in on the festive season and has tied up with HDFC Bank to offer financing at 6.99 % across its entire range of products. (ET)

Sensex scales back after weak start

Just when we thought that markets were going to witness a sharp decline on account of weakness in the global markets, the Indian equity indices defied the weakness and ended with smart gains on Monday. The movement throughout the day was however quite choppy ahead of the F&O expiry, as the benchmark indices were mostly traded in narrow trading range. The Capital Goods, Pharma, Banking and the IT stocks were among the top gainers which saw the NSE Nifty end above the 5700 mark. Even the Small-Cap index ended with modest gains. However, the BSE Mid-Cap index ended in the red. Among the other major losers were the FMCG, Consumer Durables and the Metals stocks. Finally, the BSE Sensex closed at 18,793, up 111 points over the previous close. It had earlier touched a day's high of 18,809 and a day's low of 18,600. It opened at 18,655.

Results remain in focus

That action is best which procures the greatest happiness. - Francis Hutcheson The market action on Monday indeed brought happiness as indices staged a smart recovery after opening down. The Nifty remains in a tight range of 5650-5740 and is looking to break out either way for the last 10 trading sessions. A flat opening is in the offing. The main US indices ended almost unchanged while the Asian markets are mostly a tad higher. With Wednesday being a trading holiday on account of Dussehra investors may adopt a guarded approach. Companies like Cairn India and Idea Cellular could be in focus as their results rolled in after market hours.

Precious metals end moderately higher

Bullions rise for first time in three sessions Bullion metals ended higher for first time in three days at Comex on Monday, 22 October 2012. Prices rose as traders awaited the outcome an upcoming Federal Reserve meeting on U.S. monetary policy later this week. Prices also rose after the dollar slipped earlier during the day. Gold for December delivery on Monday rose $2.3, or 0.1%, to $1,726.3 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices rose to a high of $1,730 during intra day trading. Prices closed 2% lower last week. It was second consecutive weekly loss for the yellow metal.

Market may open slightly lower

Trading of S&P CNX Nifty futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could fall 6.50 points at the opening bell. The market may remain volatile this week as traders roll over positions in the futures & options (F&O) segment from the near month October 2012 series to November 2012 series. The near-month October 2012 derivatives expire on Thursday, 25 October 2012. The stock market remains closed tomorrow, 24 October 2012, on account of Dussera. Cairn India said after trading hours on Monday, 22 October 2012, its consolidated profit after tax (PAT) jumped 204.4% to Rs 2322.20 crore on 67.5% growth in revenue to Rs 4443.10 crore in Q2 September 2012 over Q2 September 2011. PAT excluding foreign exchange transactions jumped 1239.65% to Rs 3108 crore in Q2 September 2012 over Q2 September 2011. Earnings before interest, taxation, deprecation and amortization (EBITDA) jumped 65.9% to Rs 3425.30 crore in Q2 September 2012 over Q2 September 2011.