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L&T surges on reporting strong Q4 result

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Last Updated : Jun 02 2014 | 11:22 PM IST

Key benchmark indices edged higher in early trade tracking firmness in Asian stocks. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 92.39 points or 0.38%, off about 80 points from the day's high and up close to 40 points from the day's low. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong.

NMDC rose on good Q4 result. L&T surged on strong Q4 result. Hero MotoCorp gained after the company reported good sales figures in May 2014. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) dropped after the company's domestic sales dropped in May 2014.

The market sentiment was also boosted by data showing that foreign funds made heavy purchases of Indian stocks on Friday, 30 May 2014. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 2,977.62 crore on Friday, 30 May 2014, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.

At 9:35 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 92.39 points or 0.38% to 24,309.73. The index rose 170.81 points at the day's high of 24,388.15 in early trade. The index gained 52.86 points at the day's low of 24,270.20 in early trade.

The CNX Nifty was up 24.65 points or 0.34% to 7,254.60. The index hit a high of 7,279.05 in intraday trade. The index hit a low of 7,239.50 in intraday trade.

The BSE Mid-Cap index was up 65.38 points or 0.77% to 8,532.60. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 49.38 points or 0.55% to 9,065.11. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On BSE, 971 shares rose and 367 shares fell. A total of 44 shares were unchanged.

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ONGC (up 1.59%), GAIL (India) (up 1.15%) and Bajaj Auto (up 1.81%) edged higher from the Sensex pack.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) dropped 1.65% after the company reported auto sales for May 2014. The company said before market hours that its auto sales numbers stood at 37,869 units in May 2014. Domestic sales fell 15.68% to 35,499 units in May 2014 over May 2013. Exports rose 75% to 2,370 units in May 2014 over May 2013. The Passenger Vehicles segment (which includes UVs and the Verito) sold 18,085 units in May 2014, as against 22,244 units during May 2013. The 4-wheelers commercial segment has sold 12,836 units, while the 3-wheelers segment clocked 3,732 units in May 2014.

Commenting on the monthly performance, Pravin Shah, Chief Executive, Automotive Division, M&M said, "Auto sates continue to remain subdued for many players, at the back of yet another challenging month for the industry. Post the electoral mandate, we expect to see improved sentiments resulting in a better economic situation which we hope will lead to a gradual increase in demand. We are happy to have achieved a growth of 75% in our export volumes during May".

Hero MotoCorp gained 0.88% after the company reported good sales figures in May 2014. The company said on Sunday, 1 June 2014 its sales rose 8% to 602,481 units in May 2014 over May 2013.

L&T surged 4.78% on strong Q4 result. The company's net profit surged 52.3% to Rs 2723.48 crore on 11% growth in gross revenue to Rs 20229 crore in Q4 March 2014 over Q4 March 2013. The result was announced after market hours on Friday, 30 May 2014.

The growth in L&T's top line during Q4 March 2014 is due to progress in various jobs under execution. The international revenue rose 25% to Rs 2966 crore in Q4 March 2014 over Q4 March 2013. International revenue constituted 15% of total revenue in Q4 March 2014.

L&T's order intake during the quarter was steady at Rs 26737 crore. International order inflow during the quarter at Rs 11389 crore constituted 43% of the total order inflow for the quarter.

The results for the quarter and year ended 31 March 2014, exclude the performance of Hydrocarbon business segment, which has been transferred with effect from 1 April 2013 to L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering, a wholly owned subsidiary of the company upon sanction of the scheme by the Bombay High Court vide order dated 20 December 2013. Consequently, the performance for the corresponding previous quarter and year ended 31 March 2013 has been suitably restated, L&T said in a statement.

L&T's net profit on like-to-like basis rose 25% to Rs 5493 crore on 10% growth in gross revenue to Rs 57164 crore in the year ended 31 March 2014 (FY 2014) over the year ended 31 March 2013 (FY 2013).

The recurring profit after tax (PAT) rose 18% to Rs 4905 crore in FY 2014 over FY 2013.

International revenue rose 22% to Rs 9129 crore in FY 2014 over FY 2013. It constituted 16% of the total revenue in FY 2014.

The company successfully secured fresh orders worth Rs 94108 crore in FY 2014, registering a significant growth 15% YoY, on a large base despite a sluggish economic environment during 2013-14. The international order inflow during the year at Rs 30752 crore grew more than 3 times on a YoY basis, constituting 33% of the total order inflow. Major orders during the year were procured by the infrastructure segment, L&T said in a statement.

The order book at Rs 162952 crore as at 31 March 2014, grew 13% on YoY basis. International order book constituted 21% of the total order book, L&T said in a statement.

On consolidated basis, L&T's net profit declined 6% to Rs 4902 crore on 14% growth in revenue at Rs 85889 crore in FY 2014 over FY 2013.

The consolidated profit during the year was impacted mainly due to decline in the operating margins of the hydrocarbon business and the initial losses incurred by new ventures such as L&T Shipping and L&T Special Steel and Heavy Forgings, as these subsidiary companies are yet to gain scale, L&T said in a statement.

With regard to future business outlook, L&T said it has weathered the challenging times of the past few years due to its inherent capabilities and strong balance sheet. Being well positioned to tap the emerging opportunities in its core businesses, the company looks forward to a period of renewed investment momentum and sustainable growth. Given its large order book, the company is optimistic to maintain its growth momentum in the medium term, as domestic and global economic environment improves, L&T said in a statement.

L&T's board of directors at its meeting held on Friday, 30 May 2014, recommended dividend of Rs 14.25 per share for FY 2014.

NMDC rose 1.35% on good Q4 result. The company's net profit surged 33.93% to Rs 1962.14 crore on 17.6% growth in total income to Rs 4412.03 crore in Q4 March 2014 over Q4 March 2013. The result was announced after market hours on Friday, 30 May 2014.

NMDC's net profit rose 1.22% to Rs 6420.08 crore on 9.34% growth in total income to Rs 14152.72 crore in the year ended 31 March 2014 (FY 2014) over the year ended 31 March 2013 (FY 2013).

On consolidated basis, NMDC's net profit rose 0.58% to Rs 6370.98 crore on 9.3% growth in total income to Rs 14147.31 crore in FY 2014 over FY 2013.

The export of iron ore during the current year was 22.97 lakh tons as against 16.02 lakh tons of previous year. Due to this increase of export of iron ore by 6.95 lakh tons, the selling expenditure has gone up by Rs 458.95 crore, NMDC said.

Infosys rose 0.97%. The company on Saturday, 31 May 2014 reiterated that the company's search for its new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director continues and no decision has been taken in this regard as of date. Any other reports or rumours are merely speculations at this point, Infosys said. Once the search is complete, the company will issue a formal notification on the new appointee, Infosys said in a statement.

Aurobindo Pharma dropped 3.32%. The company's consolidated net profit jumped 362.02% to Rs 501.81 crore on 47.71% rise in total income to Rs 2340.46 crore in Q4 March 2014 over Q4 March 2013.

Aurobindo Pharma's consolidated net profit jumped 299.13% to Rs 1172.85 crore on 38.05% rise in total income to Rs 8123.03 crore in the year ended 31 March 2014 over the year ended 31 March 2013.

Commenting on the Company's performance, Mr. N. Govindarajan, Managing Director of the company said: We have reported yet another year of commendable business deliveries resulting in strong growth in revenues and profits. We continue to invest in building a quality organization as we focus on optimizing the mix of products and markets in line with capacities to drive operating efficiencies. We are also making steady progress on our differentiated product offerings especially with the parenterals gaining traction in advanced geographies.

On macro front, Markit Economics will unveil HSBC India Manufacturing PMI, which gauges the business activity of India's factories, for May 2014 today, 2 June 2014.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) undertakes a monetary policy review tomorrow, 3 June 2014. The RBI left its main lending rate viz. the repo rate unchanged at 8% after a monetary policy review on 1 April 2014, as consumer-price inflation eased to a two-year low and as the rupee firmed up against the dollar.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to conduct a 4-day term reverse repo variable rate auction for a notified amount of Rs 15000 crore today, 2 June 2014, with a greenshoe option to accept offers up to an additional amount of Rs 10000 crore. The decision was take after an assessment of the evolving liquidity conditions, the RBI said in a statement on Friday, 30 May 2014. The reversal of the 4-day reverse repo will take place on Friday, 6 June 2014.

India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose at steady pace of 4.6% in Q4 March 2014 same as in the previous quarter. The GDP growth rose to 4.7% in the fiscal year ended 31 March 2014 (FY2014) from 4.5% in FY2013, but remained below the advances estimate of 4.9% released in February 2014. The 'agriculture, forestry and fishing' sector has shown a growth rate of 4.7% in FY2014, as against the growth rate of 4.6% in the Advance Estimates.

India's fiscal deficit has declined to 4.5% of GDP in FY2014 against 4.8% of budget estimates in February 2014 and 4.6% of revised estimates in February 2014. The fiscal deficit has also declined from 4.9% of GDP in FY2013.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Saturday, 31 May 2014, announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to abolish all the existing nine Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoMs) and twenty-one Groups of Ministers (GoMs). This would expedite the process of decision making and usher in greater accountability in the system, the PMO said in a statement. The Ministries and Departments will now process the issues pending before the EGoMs and GoMs and take appropriate decisions at the level of Ministries and Departments itself, the PMO said. Wherever the Ministries face any difficulties, the Cabinet Secretariat and the Prime Minister's Office will facilitate the decision making process, the PMO said.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley vowed on Sunday to uphold fiscal discipline, despite pressure on public finances from figures showing the economy grew by less than 5 percent in the fiscal year just ended. "Slower GDP growth will imply lower tax buoyancy and (a) higher fiscal deficit," he added. "We must move towards an era of fiscal discipline where we can reduce the fiscal deficit, contain inflation and improve upon our growth rates."

The inaugural session of the new Lok Sabha will commence on 4 June 2014 and end on 11 June 2014. The seven-day-long session has been convened to enable the newly-elected MPs to be sworn in. This will be followed by the election of the Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha. The special session will be followed by a full-fledged budget session after a gap.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is expected to table Union Budget for 2014-15 in Lok Sabha by July 2014. An interim budget was presented by P. Chidambaram in February this year. Essentially, in the nature of a vote on account, the interim budget was intended to get Parliament approval for expenditure to be incurred during the first few months of fiscal year 2014-15 due to Lok Sabha elections.

Asian stocks advanced on Monday after a gauge of China's manufacturing expanded at the fastest pace this year. Key benchmark indices in Japan, Singapore and South Korea were up 0.1% to 1.79%. Indonesia's Jakarta Composite fell 0.08%. Stock markets in China, Hong Kong and New Zealand are closed today for holidays.

China's Purchasing Managers' Index increased to 50.8 in May, the National Bureau of Statistics and China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said on Sunday, while authorities reduced some lenders' reserve requirement ratios as the government acts to support growth in the world's second-biggest economy.

The Dow Jones Industries Average and the S&P 500 eked out small gains on Friday, 30 May 2014. The Nasdaq Composite Index registered small losses. On the economic front, the Commerce Department reported US consumer spending fell 0.1% in April from a month earlier. April personal income rose 0.3%. The price index for personal consumption expenditureswhich is the Federal Reserve's preferred gauge of inflationrose 0.2% in April. The Thomson Reuters and University of Michigan's consumer-sentiment index for May showed a final reading of 81.9, up from a preliminary 81.8.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) next undertakes monetary policy review at a two-day meeting on 17-18 June 2014. The Fed on 30 April 2014 said after a monetary policy review that it will keep the benchmark interest-rate target at almost zero for a "considerable time" after its bond-buying program ends. The FOMC also reduced monthly debt purchases to $45 billion, its fourth straight $10 billion cut, and said further reductions are likely in "measured steps" if the economy continues to improve.

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First Published: Jun 02 2014 | 9:32 AM IST

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