Q1 results: Second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, higher costs take a toll

Here's an insight into the June quarter performance of some of India's key sectors and companies therein

The quarter ended June 2021 was a disappointment for many sectors as hopes of a demand recovery seen in the January-March period were dashed by the second wave of Covid-19. Moreover, sharp surge in prices of commodities such as steel and energy hurt margins of companies across sectors, including automobile, FMCG and consumer goods, capital goods and infrastructure, among others, compared to the previous quarter. The comparison with the year-ago period is less meaningful, given the stringent lockdowns last year. Rising commodity prices, however, meant gains for producers of metals, which have benefited from continuous rise in global prices on