STOCK TO WATCH 12-FEB

GLOBAL MARKETS ROUNDUP 
     * Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange fell 0.02
percent. The MSCI-Asia Pacific index, excluding Japan 
 was down 0.05 percent.          
    * The yen hovered near fresh lows against the dollar
and Tokyo stocks jumped back towards a 33-month high on Tuesday
after comments from a U.S. official appeared to give Japan the
green light to pursue policies that weaken yen as long as they
help beat deflation.  
    * U.S. stocks ended a quiet session with slight moves on
Monday as investors found few reasons to keep pushing shares
higher following a six-week advance, though the longer-term
trend was still viewed as positive. 
      
    FACTORS TO WATCH  
    * December industrial output (around 0530 GMT)
 
    * January consumer price inflation (around 0530 GMT)
    * Earnings: Steel Authority of India Ltd, Oil
India Ltd, Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd,
Jindal Steel and Power Ltd.

    INDIAN STOCKS TO WATCH
For additional press items double click 
NOTE: Reuters has not verified third-party stories and does not
vouch for their accuracy.
    
    FINANCIAL/REGULATORY
    * Yusuffali MA, who heads the $5.5-billion LuLu group that
owns the eponymous hypermarket chain in the Middle-East, would
be interested in buying a minority stake in Catholic Syrian Bank
Ltd, should he be allowed to by Reserve Bank of
India, The Economic Times reported.
    "I'm not a banker and I have no intention to control the
bank... But if RBI allows, I will consider buying another 3 per
cent," The Economic Times quoted Yusuffali as saying. (Economic
Times)
here
    
    ENERGY/COMMODITIES
    * Oil and Natural Gas Corp Ltd posted net profit
of 55.63 billion rupees ($1.04 billion) for its fiscal third
quarter ended December, beating expectations for a 53.7 billion
rupees net profit. (Reuters) 
    * Coal India Ltd, Indian Oil Corp Ltd and
NHPC Ltd are likely to be the main candidates for
disinvestment next fiscal year, government officials said on
condition of anonymity as they are not authorised to talk to the
media. (Economic Times)
here
    * Tata Power Co Ltd is in early-stage talks with
Green Infra Ltd to merge the renewable energy assets of both
companies, a person with direct knowledge of the development
said.  (Economic Times)
here
    * Jaiprakash Associates reported October-December
net profit fell 64.2 percent to 1.11 billion rupees from a year
ago. (Reuters) 
    * India's sugar production for the 2013/14 season is set to
fall below consumption for the first time in four years as a
water shortage trims acreage in three key states. (Reuters)
 
    
    INDUSTRIAL
    * Voltas Ltd reported October-December swung to a
net profit of 768.1 million from a net loss of 1.15 billion
rupees a year ago.  (Reuters) 
    
    TELCO
    * Russia's Sistema  and Malaysia's Maxis
Group have shelved talks for a possible buyout of Indian telecom
operator Aircel after inconclusive negotiation on price and a
recently failed government auction of airwaves, The Economic
Times reported citing two people close to the deal. (Economic
Times)
here

    IT
    * Nielsen Holdings NV increased the size of its
contract with Tata Consultancy Services Ltd to $2.5
billion from $1 billion. (Reuters) 
    
    DRUGS / HEALTH CARE
    * Private equity firm Apax Partners LLP sold half its stake
in Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd to Oppenheimer
Funds Inc for about 5.23 billion rupees ($97 million). (Reuters)
 
    * Piramal Enterprises Ltd said October-December
net profit surged to 610.7 million rupees from 85.2 million
rupees a year earlier. 
    
    RETAIL / LEISURE
    * Securities and Exchange Board of India has allowed Diageo
Plc  more time to begin buying shares of United Spirits
Ltd from public shareholders, JM Financial, which is
managing the open offer for Diageo, said in a filing with the
BSE on Monday. (Mint)
here
    * Indian Hotels Co's board will decide whether to
proceed with a bid for Orient-Express Hotels in the
current fiscal year ending March, a top company executive said
on Monday. (Reuters) 
    
    MEDIA
    * Endemol India and Eros International Media Ltd 
have agreed on a joint venture in which the two companies will
equally share investments and revenues, Deepak Dhar, managing
director and CEO of Endemol India, said. (Economic Times)
here

Posted in: STOCKS TO WATCH