Brace for 'weak' Indian Q1 earnings, says BofA-ML

Reuters Market Eye - INDIAN corporate EARNINGS Results FOR Jan-March "should be WEAK," warns Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, sees potential for a market correction.

BOFA-ML estimates headline profit growth for fiscal Q1 "is likely" to be to 13.7 percent, but 9.7 percent if excluding State Bank of India.

The investment bank says estimates sales growth of 16.7 percent across its coverage universe, calls it the lowest sales growth in the last 10 quarters.

BofA-ML says SBI, ICICI Bank , HDFC Bank , Infosys and Tata Motors are expected to be the key contributors of growth.

However, Reliance Industries , Tata Steel , Hindalco Industries to drag down growth, BoA-ML forecasts.

Drilling down into specific forecasts, BoA-ML expects results buys to be ICICI Bank, HCL Tech , Apollo Tyres , and Jaiprakash Hydro Power .

However, among disappointments BoA-ML sees Reliance Industries , IDEA , and Larsen & Toubro .

(rafael.nam@thomsonreuters.com)