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Marico’s Q3FY11 numbers were in line with our expectations. Net sales grew a remarkable 22%, the highest in past 6-7 quarters. Growth (+15%) was largely volume driven on strong traction in international businesses. Consistent price increase led to slower volume growth for Parachute and Saffola that up only 5% and 13% respectively.

Price of key input, Copra, jumped by 62%, resulting in ~1,300bps dip in gross margins. However, lower other expenditure and slower growth in SG&A restricted the EBITDA margin decline at ~250bps. Lower taxes and depreciation enabled net profit to grow 12%.

Parachute and Saffola price increases lower volume growth

Technical analyst Anil Singhvi has maintained 'hold' rating on L I C Housing Finance Limited stock with targets of Rs 210-256-.

According to analyst, the investors can purchase the stock with a stop loss of Rs 172.

The stock of the company, on January 27, closed at Rs 184.80 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 299.30 and a low of Rs 142 on BSE.

Current EPS & P/E ratio stood at 18.40 and 9.64 respectively.

Net Sales increased by a mere 2.2% YoY to Rs3.8bn (as against our estimate of Rs4.2bn) due to decline in trading revenues from fertiliser segment. However, OPM expanded by 321bps to 21.8% due to lower cost of traded goods. Consequently Adj. net profit increased by 22.5% to Rs436mn (post adjustment of exceptional gain of Rs257.1mn arising from sale of surplus land in Q3FY10)

Steady growth in Chemical business:

Technical analyst Anil Singhvi maintained 'buy' rating on Bank of Baroda Limited stock with an intraday target of Rs 875.

According to analyst, the investors can buy the stock with a stop loss of Rs 835.

The stock of the company, on January 27, closed at Rs 844.25 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 1050 and a low of Rs 525 on BSE.

Current EPS & P/E ratio stood at 97.06 and 8.62 respectively.

Madhur Bhandarkar has moved out of the hard hitting films and tried his hands for a rom-com Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji. The film revolves around the lives of three guys, Naren (Ajay Devgn), Abhay or Abby (Emraan Hashmi) and Milind (Omi Vaidya) and their tryst with love. Naren is a mild natured banker, heartbroken after separation from wife. Abby a gym instructor lives his life by flirting and on the riches of his girlfriends and finally Milind is still saving himself for his true love.

Shruti Haasan, who is popularly known as daughter of superstar Kamal Haasan, is celebrating her 25th birthday today. The multi-talented girl, who is getting rave reviews for her last Telugu release Anaganaga O Dheerudu, has no birthday party plans.

The actress-singer-music composer wants to celebrate her birthday in a very simple way. She wants to keep it a family affair as she is getting to celebrate it with them after three long years. Shruti wants to spend the entire day with her family and wants to keep the celebration quiet.