Page 53 - Krishna Kant

Sensex beats Nifty hands-down in 2013

Sensex rose 5.8% this year, against a 3.2% rise in Nifty; Axis Bank inclusion may blunt Sensex edge

Corporate profitability has slid 27% from March 2011 peak

But analysts see silver lining in healthy revenue growth numbers

Pfizer-Wyeth merger may lead to re-rating of entity

They are currently among the cheapest MNC pharma stocks and trade at a discount to larger peers

Tyre stocks on a high

BS Tyre Index is up 21% since October this year, against a 7% rise in the Sensex during the period

Mid-cap rally likely to continue

Many are still trading 40-50% below their peaks, indicating the extent of opportunity left for investors

Growth without profits

While net sales of non-oil and finance companies have grown the fastest in the last five quarters, net profit has declined by 11.2%; the picture looks worse if IT is excluded

Liquidity, not earnings growth, driving stock rally

Sensex up 18% from late-August lows against 6% rise in underlying earnings during the period

Consumer goods firms see buying bonanza ahead

Rural households continue to splurge on branded products, say analysts

Timing the tide right, GE Shipping sails past SCI

Stock now two and a half times more valuable than state giant, an outcome of smarter strategic decisions

Mobile telephony becomes a three-horse game

Market share of Airtel, Vodafone & Idea rises to 70% from 60% in 2010 and 50% in 2008

India Inc's CFOs grab global honours

19 Indian CFOs in list of top performers in their industries; RIL, Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors among firms honoured

Market cool to recent RIL success

RIL's rising topline has failed to impress market as its weightage on Sensex has falled 86 bps in the year

HDFC Bank: Cheques and imbalances

Thanks to a tight leash on expenses and lower provisioning, HDFC Bank manages to beat estimates but core income disappoints

MRF trumps Apollo in home market

The Chennai-based tyre brand has not only grown faster but has done so profitably and without taking undue financial risks

Idea closing in on bigger rivals

Market worth has risen to half that of Airtel and double that of RCom

Listed companies liable to put aside Rs 8,100 cr in FY13 for CSR

India Inc putting structures and personnel in place, in line with new Companies Act

Balance sheets of Indian companies worsened in FY13

Just 28 firms accounted for nearly 75% of total borrowings but financial ratios in some of the most indebted sectors have begun to stabilise

Havells' low-cost dilemma

Its entry into low-cost switches with Reo has teething problems; scaling up its network is one of the solutions

Diversification losing sheen on D-St this yr

Bigger and broader indices do relatively poorly as investors get selective; experts see opportunity if scrips chosen with care

Top builders sitting on Rs 58,000-cr inventory

Nearly a third accounted for by DLF alone; HDIL's share 20%