IT starts Q3 on positive note; TCS, Infy bullish

With demand improving and new deals flowing in, Indian IT companies have started the third quarter earning season on a good note, indicating that the sector is coming out of woods after being hit hard by the global financial meltdown last year.

The country's largest software exporter Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which posted a better-than-expected profit during the October-December quarter, said it saw continued demand for outsourcing services from the US, the key offshore market.

"While the US continues to lead demand recovery, the UK and European firms are increasingly beginning to invest for the upturn. The Asia-Pacific and India are also seeing strong demand driven by growth in sectors like energy, utilities and Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI)," TCS Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director N Chandrasekaran had said.

TCS on January 15, clocked 33 per cent jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 1,823.90 crore for the third quarter of 2009-10 compared to Rs 1,362.06 in the same period last year.

Indicating a recovery, Infosys had also raised its annual sales forecast after announcing its quarterly results last week.