Corporate Scorecard

 Biocon India has announced a 253 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 60 crore for the first half of 2003-04 from Rs 17 crore the previous corresponding H1.

 Sales surged 102 per cent to Rs 259 crore (Rs 128 crore). The board of directors has decided to proceed with the preparatory work for an IPO planned for the first quarter of 2004.

 Parrys pares net loss

 Parrys Confectionery has reported a profit before tax of Rs 45 lakh for the second quarter of 2003-04, against a loss of Rs 158 lakh in the corresponding period of the previous year.

 Loss after tax was at Rs 19 lakh (Rs 56 lakh for the same period last fiscal. The reported profit before tax is without taking into account a one-time charge of Rs 95 lakh towards a change in super-annuation policy.

 e-Serve Q2 net rises 86%

 e-Serve International has posted a 86 per cent rise in net profit at Rs 10.92 crore for the quarter ended 30 September 2003, as compared with Rs 5.88 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Total income increased to Rs 77.07 crore, from Rs 61.19 crore in SQ-02.

 BOBL first-half net up 50%

 Chennai-based Bharat Overseas Bank (BOBL) has reported a 50 per cent rise in net profit at Rs 13.54 crore for the first half of the current fiscal, against Rs 9.02 crore in the corresponding period last fiscal.

 Total volume of business crossed Rs 3,400 crore as of September 30, 2003. BOBL