In the Q-2 of July to Septmeber, this year, the net profit of HDFC Bank climbed 44% to Rs 528 crore as against Rs 368 crore in the same period last year.  

For the very first time, the consolidation results following its merger with Centurion Bank of Punjab, completed in May 2008, was announced by HDFC.

Excellent credit growth was witnessed by the bank during this period. However, the pace of loan growth could be affected due to rise in interest rates to a seven-year high and possibility of an economic slowdown.

Larsen & Toubro recorded 32 percent more net profit in the second quarter ending on September 30 as compared to the profit of previous year. Its profit stood at Rs 348 crore in the same period of last year. 

The overall sale is also increased by 40 per cent at Rs 7,786 crore. The company secured more orders worth Rs 12,453 crore. The machinery & industrial products segment registered a16 percent growth with revenues of Rs 685 crore.

The company said in a statement that it is fully aware of the global financial situation. It is studying the affect of global scenario on the growth plan of company. 

As a listed IT services business company, NIIT Technologies, announced a net profit of Rs 36.7 crore for the second quarter ended 30 September, a 7% growth over the corresponding period a year-ago.

The revenues of the company grew 13 per cent to Rs 258.7 crore from its revenues in the corresponding quarter in the last year.

A net profit of Rs 402.91 crore was posted by Axis Bank durin

New York  - Johnson & Johnson, a New Brunswick-based pharmaceuticals and cosmetics company, has raised its profit forecast for the year, following the release of strong third quarter results.

Profits rose 30 per cent in the third quarter to 3.3 billion dollars. The company said Tuesday that sales have risen 6 per cent to 15.9 billion dollars due to strong exports.

The company's cosmetics and personal hygiene lines, such as bebe, Penaten and Neutrogena, did particularly well. Medical technology divisions also performed strongly.

Technology giant Infosys Technologies, which develops applications, designs supply chains and offers back-office services, has announced better-than-expected results for the three month period ended Sep 30, 2008, helped by a weaker rupee. 

After tax and minority interest, the company has registered a growth of 30.18% in its consolidated net profit, which stood at Rs 14,320 million as against Rs 11,000 million for the corresponding period of the last year (Sep 2007).