OnePlus 5T leak hints slim bezels, 18:9 screen: Here’s speculations roundup

 

TECHNOLOGY NEWS – China-based smartphone maker OnePlus is reportedly working on the next iteration of its current year flagship OnePlus 5. Dubbed as ‘OnePlus 5T’, the upcoming smartphone’s image render has been leaked by Evan Blass on Twitter.

In a photo post uploaded on Twitter by Evan Blass, a famous tipster known for sharing inside information in the technology space, the upper front side of the still unconfirmed OnePlus 5T is revealed. Based on the image, it can be assumed that the phone will sport super slim bezels on sides and marginally slim bezels on top compared to its predecessor.

Based on earlier reports, the OnePlus 5T is also believed to sport a big 6-inch Optic AMOLED screen in 18:9 aspect ratio format with FHD+ resolution. Just like other smartphones with ultra-wide screens, the OnePlus 5T is reported to sport a fingerprint scanner on the back that will allow the phone to accommodate a big screen on the front with small bezels.

Recently, an online technology information portal, Android Authority, released OnePlus 5T’s purported picture render that showed the phone from an angle revealing the almost similar build but with a new widescreen and no fingerprint scanner on the front.

iPhone X debut: Will slow supply dampen Apple’s hopes in India?

After facing a lacklustre response to iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus globally, including in India, Apple has now placed its bet on successful delivery of “super premium” iPhone X that aims for a scheduled arrival on November 3.

In the past few days, several media reports have claimed that Apple is facing a huge supply gap primarily for two reasons: difficulties in assembling the new facial identification software and 3D camera, and “off the charts” pre-orders for iPhone X after the Apple fraternity didn’t make the expected beeline for iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.

The scenario suggests that people will have to wait long before they can grab an iPhone X. Analysts have already warned that the stock on hand is scarce, owing to constrained supply of key iPhone X components. The advanced depth-sensing camera system in iPhone X requires parts that only a few manufacturers can produce.

The iPhone X, which marks the 10th anniversary of the device, costs Rs 89,000 for a 64 GB model and Rs 1.02 lakh for the 256 GB variant.

According to Tarun Pathak, Associate Director, Mobile Devices and Ecosystems, Counterpoint Research, supply issues will have three main implications for Apple.

“Either the demand for iPhone X will shift to subsequent quarters or some part of the demand will be absorbed by iPhone 8 series if supply is delayed for long. In both the cases, it won’t have much impact on Apple as its user base will remain within the iOS ecosystem,” Pathak told IANS.

Infosys turns ex-date for share buyback and interim dividend

Infosys fell 2.5% at Rs 921 on the BSE intra-day trade after the stock turned ex-date for the proposed buyback and for interim dividend of Rs 13 per share.

On October 9, 2017, the Buyback Committee had approved and fixed Wednesday, November 1, 2017 to be the record date for determining the entitlement and the names of the equity shareholders, to whom the Letter of Offer will be sent and will be eligible to participate in the buyback which was approved in the board meeting on August 19, 2017.

The record date for the payment of interim dividend would also be November 1, 2017, subject to declaration of interim dividend by the board of directors of the Company in their meeting to be held on October 24, 2017, Infosys said in a regulatory filing. The board had declared an interim dividend of Rs 13 per equity share.

The board proposed to buyback equity shares from the eligible equity shareholders of the Company for an amount not exceeding Rs 13,000 crore. The Buyback offer comprises a purchase of up to 113 million equity shares aggregating up to 4.92% of the paid-up equity share capital of the Company at a price of Rs 1,150 per equity share. The buyback is proposed to be made from all eligible equity shareholders on a proportionate basis through the “Tender offer” route.

At 10:47 am, Infosys was trading 2% lower at Rs 927 on the BSE as compared to 0.21% decline in the S&P BSE Sensex and 0.48% fall in the sector index S&P BSE Information Technology.

21 stocks from BSE Smallcap index rally over 50% in October

GM Breweries, IFB Agro Industries, Sanwaria Consumer, HEG, Gujarat Borosil, Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals (GNFC), Saregama India, Balaji Amines and Bhansali Engineering Polymers were among 21 stocks from the S&P BSE Smallcap index, which rallied over 50% in the month of October.

The S&P BSE Smallcap index hit a new high of 17,625, surging 9% thus far in the current month. The index is set to post its biggest monthly gain in past 19 months. Earlier, in March 2016, the smallcap index had rallied 10% in a single month.

By comparison, the S&P BSE Midcap and the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex gained 8% and 6%, respectively during the current month.

Balaji Amines rallied 16% to Rs 515 on the BSE in intra-day trade today, after its board approved the investment in Balaji Speciality Chemicals Private Limited. The company said the said acquisition will help it expand its product portfolio and target domestic and export markets.

Meanwhile, Balaji Amines recorded 34% jump in net profit at Rs 29.16 crore in September quarter (Q2FY18) against Rs 21.73 crore in Q1FY17. The stock rallied 51% in past one month from Rs 337.

Sanwaria Consumer saw its market value appreciated by 220% from Rs 7.39 to Rs 23.69 on Tuesday. The company had reported three-fold jumped in its net profit at Rs 21.04 crore in Q2FY18. It had profit of Rs 6.59 crore in the same quarter last year.

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Mahindra Logistics IPO opens today: Should you invest?

STOCK MARKET – Mahindra & Mahindra subsidiary Mahindra Logistics (MLL), which will open its initial public offering on October 31, with a price band of Rs 425-429 per share, will be the first logistics firm to hit the market after the rollout of GST.  The offer will close for subscription on November 2, 2017.

The issue comprises sale of 1,93,32,346 shares, including offloading of 96,66,173 shares — amounting to 13.74% stake — by the parent firm Mahindra and Mahindra. Normandy Holdings would sell 92,71,180 shares, while Kedaara Capital would offloa 3,94,993 scrips. Normandy Holdings is a 100% subsidiary of Kedaara Capital.

The minimum bid lot for the offer is 34 equity shares and in multiples of 34 shares thereafter. The book running lead managers to the issue are Kotak Mahindra Capital Company and Axis Capital.

Here’s what the brokerages say about the issue:

Centrum Wealth Research

According to the brokerage, at the higher end of the price band of Rs 429, the issue is priced at P/E of 66.9x (post dilution) on FY17 basis, which appears to be expensive given the low financial performance (FY15-17 – revenue and PAT CAGR of 18% and 8%, respectively, with negative operating cash flows in the last 2 years).

“Even if money raised at such valuations was flowing into the company, it would have ultimately belonged to shareholders. But in this case 100% of the money raised is going to the selling shareholders and not into the company,” the brokerage added.

The issue looks expensive at the given valuation and clubbing that with the lackluster performance of other M&M group companies it becomes difficult to logically recommend subscribing to the issue, it said.

Jio effect: Airtel partners with Celkon, offers 4G smartphone at Rs 1349

India’s leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel on October 30 in partnership with Celkon launched a 4G Android smartphone for Rs 1,349. The phone comes bundled with Airtel’s Rs 169 offer plan, which provides unlimited calls, and 500 MB data per day for 28 days.

The partnership is part of Airtel’s ‘Mera Pehla Smartphone’ initiative, under which Airtel plans to collaborate with device manufacturers to launch smartphones at the price of a feature phone.

In terms of specifications, the Celkon Smart 4G smartphone sports a 4-inch screen, dual-SIM slots and FM radio. The Android powered 4G smartphone offers access to several apps on Google Play Store, including YouTube, Facebook and WhatsApp. The device will also come preloaded with apps from Airtel — MyAirtel app, Wynk music and Airtel TV.

The phone comes bundled with Airtel Rs 169 offer plan, which provides unlimited calls, and 500 MB data per day for 28 days. Also, there is a cashback offer that entails to terms and conditions.

To avail a cashback offer, ancustomer needs to make a down payment of Rs 2,849 for the 4G smartphone and make 36 continuous monthly recharges of Rs 169. The customer will get a cash refund of Rs 500 after 18 months and another Rs 1,000 after 36 months, taking the total cash benefit to Rs 1500.

In case the customer does not wish to opt for the Rs 169 bundled plan, she/he has the flexibility of doing recharges of any denomination and validity as per individual requirements. However, to claim the cash refund benefit, recharges worth Rs 3,000 must be done within the first 18 months (to claim the first refund installment of Rs 500) and another Rs 3,000 over the next 18 months (to claim the second refund installment of Rs 1000).

New Year disruption plan: Now, Reliance Jio moves to broadband, TV space

After its success in mobile telephony, Reliance Jio is preparing to disrupt the market once again. This time in the fixed broadband and television (TV) space.

The Mukesh Ambani-led company will launch high-speed fibre to the home (FTTH) broadband in more than 30 cities early next year, to offer TV as well as internet to subscribers, it is learnt.

Jio has mapped out a plan to address over 100 million TV households across these cities, including Tier II and III, by ensuring dense fibre presence for last-mile connectivity to homes. In the first phase itself, at least 50 million households will be offered the service, according to sources in the know.

Jio has already spread out over 300,000 kilometres of optic fibre (half of which is through a long-term contract with Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communications).

In fact, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, in his annual general meeting speech this year, indicated that Jio was on track to offer high-speed broadband services. The infrastructure was in place and it would be the next big monetisation opportunity for the company, he had said.

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Offshore India funds, ETFs pump in $6 bn in Jan-Sep

STOCK MARKET – Optimistic of the country’s long-term growth prospects, India-focussed offshore funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have pumped in nearly $6 billion in the first nine months of the year.

In contrast, these funds had pulled out $1.73 billion in January-September of 2016, according to a Morningstar report.

The offshore India fund — not domiciled in India — receives flow from overseas investors and in turn, invests the money in Indian markets.

India-focussed offshore funds and ETFs are a subset of the overall foreign portfolio investor (FPI) flows.

According to the report, India-focused offshore funds invested $4.96 billion during January-September of the year while those of ETFs witnessed an infusion of $747 million, taking the total to $5.7 billion.

On a positive note, the money largely came into offshore funds which signify long-term money as against offshore ETF, where the money is largely short-term.

“I still feel that the long-term story is intact and solid and we will continue to get long-term money through the fund route,” said Himanshu Srivastava, Senior Analyst Manager Research at Morningstar India.

During the July-September quarter, offshore funds and ETFs together witnessed an inflow of $935 million, which was lower than $2.77 billion seen in the preceding three months.

“One of the major reasons which is working against emerging markets is the increased tension on the Korean peninsula due to the stand-off between the US and North Korea,” Srivastava said.

Besides, India is more impacted largely due to the delay in the pick-up of economic growth. This, coupled with expensive valuations, makes it a tricky situation, he added.

Markets check: Buy Cipla, Apollo Tyres and Raymond

Few trading ideas by Vaishali Parekh, Research Analyst – Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher:

NIFTY VIEW:

The daily and weekly trend in Nifty continues to be up while the monthly trend would turn up with a close above 9,950. The support for the week is seen at 10,150 while resistance is seen at 10,500. Nifty would now have near term resistance at 10,500.

BUY CIPLA

CMP: Rs 625.05

TARGET: Rs 680

STOP LOSS: Rs 600

The stock has made a higher bottom formation pattern in the daily chart signifying a positive bias in the upward direction and also the sentiment in the pharma sector has improved, thus supporting our view of a pullback. The RSI has also been on the rise and recently has shown a trend reversal signaling a buy. Overall the trend has been on the rise and with volume activity looking decent, we recommend a buy in this stock for an upside target of Rs 680 keeping a stop loss of Rs 600.

BUY APOLLO TYRES 

CMP: Rs 243.50

TARGET: Rs 265

STOP LOSS: Rs 230

The stock has been in consolidation phase for quite some time at around Rs 240, and now has shown a positive candle pattern in the daily chart indicating strength and potential to gain further upside to scale around Rs 265 levels. The RSI has indicated a trend reversal signaling a buy and showing a positive bias. With good volume participation witnessed, we recommend a buy in this stock for an upside target of Rs 265 keeping a stop loss of Rs 230.

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ONGC hits 5-month high as Q2 profit beats estimates

STOCK MARKET – Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) hit a five-month high of Rs 190, up 3% on the BSE in early morning trade after the country’s biggest oil and gas producer, reported a 3.1% increase in second-quarter profit at Rs 5,131 crore, on back of higher oil prices. The net profit in September 2017 quarter (Q2FY18) was better than expected against an average analysts estimates of Rs 4,543 crore. The stock was trading at its highest level since May 11, 2017.

 

Revenue was up 3.1% at Rs 18,966 crore in Q2FY18 against Rs 18,395 crore in the corresponding quarter of previous fiscal.

ONGC said oil production was up almost 1% to 6.45 million tonnes in Q2 while natural gas output was up 7.7% at 6.25 billion cubic metres.

“The company notified 9 discoveries so far in FY’18 out of which 4 discoveries have been made since last press release on 27th July, 2017 (1 new prospect and 3 new pool discoveries). Out of the four discoveries, two discoveries each have been made in offshore blocks and onshore blocks,” ONGC said in a press release.

The board has approved an interim dividend of 60%, i.e. Rs 3 on each equity share of Rs 5.

Antique Stock Broking maintain BUY rating on the stock as marginal EBITDA miss aside,  analyst feel earnings otherwise are largely in-line and even as crude price environment has gradually improved to USD 60/bbl (Brent) vs an average of USD 53/bbl YTD, trading at just 8.3x FY19e, the stock is not fully factoring in the same.

In addition incremental gas production coupled with a higher gas price (revised upward for Oct’17-Apr’18) should further aid earnings, the brokerage firm said in Q2FY18 result review.