IT bellwether Infosys today announced better-than-expected earnings for the latest quarter. The company reported 2.72% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 1582 crore on 6.92% rise in consolidated total income to Rs 5972 crore in Q3 December 2009 over Q2 September 2009.

A total of seven brokerages had projected a between 0.79% to 8.65% fall in Infosys' Q3 consolidated net profit as per Indian accounting standards at between Rs 1406.80 crore to Rs 1527.70 crore in Q3 December 2009 over Q2 September 2009. They expectd a between 1.29% fall to a rise of 0.37% in revenue at between Rs 5512.90 crore to Rs 5606.10 crore in Q3 December 2009 over Q2 September 2009. It may be recalled that Infosys had raised salaries in October 2009.

Bajaj Auto will also announce its Q3 December 2009 result today, 12 January 2010. The company is seen reporting strong Q3 December 2009 results due to low base effect as sales in the year-ago period i.e. December 2008 were adversely affected by the global financial crisis. Increase in input costs will offset operating leverage arising from higher volumes, according to analysts.

A total of four brokerages expect a between 160.9% to 191% growth in Bajaj Auto's net profit at between Rs 428.60 crore to Rs 477.90 crore in Q3 December 2009 over Q3 December 2008.

Telecom major Bharti Airtel has reportedly clinched a deal to buy a controlling stake 70% in Bangladesh's fourth-biggest mobile phone operator Warid Telecom. The deal will be announced in New Delhi on Tuesday, reports said.

State-run power major NTPC has filed the draft red herring prospectus with the market regulator on Monday to sell some of its stake, reports said. The NTPC FPO is likely to open between 3 and 5 February 2010

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is reportedly wooing the LyondellBasell management, especially Russian promoter Leonid Blavatnik, to become co-promoter in the bankrupt Dutch chemical company.

Trading in shares of Dunlop India will resume on the BSE today, 12 January 2010, after nearly eight years of suspension. However, around 2.69 crore equity shares of Rs 10 each issued on a rights basis are subjudice before the Delhi High Court and have not been listed by the BSE, a communique from the bourse said..

Exide Industries' net profit rose 132% to Rs 130.48 crore in the September-December quarter over the same period last year. Net sales rose 16% to Rs 912.57 crore.

Sterlite Technologies has scheduled a meeting of the board of directors on 18 January 2010 to consider issue of bonus shares and spilt of equity shares.

Telecom stocks may see action on reports the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will auction three slots of third generation (3G) spectrum for all 22 telecom circles. The successful bidders would have to make an upfront payment within 15 days of winning the 3G licence.

The final date for submission of applications is 25 January 2010. The pre-qualification of bidders will be announced on 5 February 2010 and mock auction on 9-10 February 2010.