The Hindu Business Line : Who would give a bird the lie?

Jogin was reading As You Like It nostalgically, “When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding.” Sridevi was praying for a fall in the prices of petrol and diesel, as suggested by the Rangarajan panel. Khan was computing ‘return per ball bowled’, based on BCCI’s earnings… Till Dakshinamoorthy dragged them all for some market gappa. Hop in!

Dax: Hello, world! Chart patterns suggest further weakness.

Sri : Possible that the corrective phase may begin.

Kay: Markets turned weak on Friday. Fall may continue further...

Jog: Nifty is likely to get support around 2925. JMO

Sri : Bird flu could affect market sentiment. :-(

Kay: In tourism-related sectors such as travel and hotel?

Jog: Also poultry industry stocks such as Venky’s India.

Dax: If reports of outbreak are true, poultry exports will get hit.

Kay: Means Venkateswara, Godrej, and SKM counters?

Sri : On the other hand, Cipla could gain. With rise in offtake of Tamiflu.

Jog: Ranbaxy may also gain due to bird flu fears.

Kay: What about last week? Who has the numbers?

Dax: Me! McLeod Russ gained almost 20 per cent last Monday, and Jayshree Tea was up about half of that. Orchid Chem earned a profit of 4 per cent on Feb 13. Matrix Lab and Karuturi were up 1.5 per cent. Tata Steel, Steel Authority, Hind Lever, Cipla and Madras Alum ended positive last Monday.

Sri : This week, Spentex may show a firm trend on news of acquisition.

Jog: Shipping stocks may show a firm trend.

Kay: Tea stocks have warmed up. Gained significantly.

Dax: With tea prices gaining at each passing auction, tea companies are in for a real party. Tea prices could be fully bullish this year.

Sri : Watch Apeejay, Assam Company, Bombay Burmah, Dhunseri, Goodricke, Harrisons Malaysalam, Jayshree Tea, Parry Agro, Tata Tea, Warren Tea, Williamson Magor and McLeod Rusell. Also, HLL; it buys tea at the auctions and sells in domestic and export markets.

Kay: HLL has retracted a bit from its 52-week high.

Sri : Wait, say brokers, for what Q4 may bring for this FMCG giant.

Jog: Cost initiatives may yet work well for HLL.

Dax: LIC Housing Finance is at Rs 200-210. Expected to move on the back of the company’s earnings visibility.

Kay: It is aiming at 30 per cent growth in business and 25 per cent increase in profitability in the next fiscal.

Jog: Given a target of 250 by several brokers. Doesn’t seem to move!

Sri : Growth in home loans will keep the company on investors’ radar.

Jog: Ashok Leyland at Rs 31-32 a few days ago. Indeed moved ahead!

Kay: Powered by a re-rating? Expect more news from the company.

Sri : Suna tha! Mora Realty 420-425 short to medium term!

Dax: Coromandel Fert 88-90 short to medium term.

Sri : Canfin Homes 65-80 in 4-5 weeks!

Jog: Gail 310-330 in 3-4 weeks. IFCI 15 in 1-2 weeks. SpiceJet 90-100.

Sri : Did I tell you I’m watching Arvind Mills, Igarashi, and Ucal Fuel?

Kay: Rana Sugar and Ponni Sugar moving to trade-for trade segment. And out of the radar of day traders!

Sri : Dr Reddy’s stock witnessed sharp run after the Betapharm buy.

Jog: Gammon India went up over 2 per cent on Friday despite the general weakness.

Dax: ‘infrastructure’ mantra! Look at power and engineering.

Jog: Also cement stocks on declines. Canara Bank looked bullish?

Kay: But short-term weakness seen in line with the markets.

Sri : Heard Shanti Gears and Entertainment Network are delivery picks.

Dax: Romeo tells Juliet, “I would I were thy bird.” And she says...

Sri : “Sweet, so would I: Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.”

Jog: “Who would give a bird the lie, though he cry ‘cuckoo’ never so?”

Kay: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Wish flu vanished like a bad dream!

Lee, with inputs from Nat, Mad, Nil, Sub, Bij, The and Sve.

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