Larsen and Toubro traded almost a percent lower ahead of its Q2 numbers today. A CNBC-TV18 poll expects net sales to rise by around 11 percent driven by the infra segment while profits are expected to increase 12 percent to Rs 970 crore on a standalone basis.

Public sector lender Syndicate Bank’s net profit slipped 32.9 percent year-on-year to Rs 315.6 crore in July-September quarter dented by higher provisions and tax cost but was supported by higher other income. Profit in the same quarter last year was Rs 470 crore.

Net interest income, the difference between interest earned and interest expended, increased marginally to Rs 1,422.5 crore in the quarter ended September 2014 compared to Rs 1,411 crore in the year-ago period. Other income (non-interest income) jumped 58 percent to Rs 437 crore from Rs 276.4 crore during the same period. In September quarter, domestic net interest margin of the bank improved sequentially to 2.96 percent from 2.86 percent and global net interest margin expanded to 2.57 percent from 2.47 percent. The stock fell 2 percent.

Brent crude dropped for the second straight session today, dragged below USD 83 by worries over the strong US dollar. The dollar held near a four-year high against a basket of major currencies, with its near-term fortunes hinging on whether US jobs data will add to or temper optimism about the US economy’s outlook. A stronger greenback makes it more expensive for holders of other currencies to buy dollar-denominated commodities. Brent had dropped 52 cents to USD 82.34 a barrel by 0625 GMT after falling as much as 90 cents the session before. It has fallen around 4 percent so far this week.

Equity benchmarks continued to consolidate with a negative bias in noon trade, weighed down by HDFC Bank that fell 1.6 percent as the MSCI has deleted it from its India index. The Sensex declined 92.45 points to 27823.43 and the Nifty slipped 17.20 points to 8321.10. About 1250 shares have advanced, 1442 shares declined, and 89 shares are unchanged.

Coustery : http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/local-markets/sensex-nifty-weak-lt-most-active-aurobindo-at-new-high_1221866.html