AFGRI’s 2H 2009 revenue fell by 9.6% YoY to ZAR3.866 mn from ZAR4.274 mn in 2H 2008. Operating profit margin declined slightly to 12.9% from 14.4% in 2H 2008. The Group’s net cash position improved by ZAR317 mn to ZAR58 mn at the end of 2H 2009 versus a negative ZAR259 mn cash position at [...]

Dalmia Cement (Bharat) has raised its stake in OCL India to 45.4% from 21.7% percent earlier, in an all cash deal. Dalmia Cement bought 13.46 mn shares, or 23.66%, of OCL India at INR131.83 per share.
Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd. Of India manufactures cement, clinker and sugar. The manufacture and sale of sugar accounts for a [...]

Falcon Tyres plans to seek as much as INR40 bn ($865 mn) in debt and equity financing to fund expansion. The company’s Board has approved equity fnancing in the amount of INR10 bn ($216 mn) and to increase the borrowing limit to INR30 bn. The equity capital raise is planned in several stages, the first [...]

Emami’s fiscal 3Q 2009 (ending December 31, 2009) Consolidated Revenue rose by 30.3% YoY to INR3.5 bn, with Consolidated EBIDTA up by 90% YoY to INR1.06 bn and Profit After Taxes up by 93.9% YoY to INR78o mn. EBIDTA margins in fiscal 3Q 2009 rose to 31.7% from 20.7% in fiscal 3Q 2008.
Emami, a leader [...]

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said last Thursday that his government will seize one of the local units of Gruma, Molinos Nacionales CA, maker of Robin Hood flour known as Monaca. Gruma is Mexico’s largest maker of corn flour for tortillas. The news sent the stock into a steep drop. Gruma is a leader in corn [...]

Sona Koyo Steering Systems’s fiscal 3Q 2009 (ending December 31, 2009) Profit After Tax (PAT) was INR68.9 mn versus a loss in 3Q 2008 of INR172.4 mn, on improved efficiencies and stable foreign exchange rates. Net sales in 3Q 2009 rose by 47.17% YoY to INR2,212.1 mn from INR1,503.1 mn in 3Q 2008.
Sona Koyo Steering [...]

Alok Industries fiscal 3q 2009 NI (ending December 31) up by 16.57% YoY to INR581 mn from INR498.4 mn in 3Q 2008. Net sales rose 32.59% YoY to INR10.825 bn from INR8.164 bn in 3Q 2008. Export sales rose by 12.64% YoY to INR3.6926 bn from INR3.278 bn in 3Q 2008.
The company reported an INR450 [...]

As of January 20, supermarket prices for sugar in Ukraine were about UAH10.5 per kilogram and about UAH11 per kilogram at smaller retailers. According to the head of Ukrainian association of sugar producers Ukrsakhar, over the past month wholesale prices have risen steeply from UAH5,500 per ton to UAH7,500 per ton, a 36% increase.
Ukraine’s stock [...]

X5 plans to launch a new chain of children’s retail outlets under the brand name Baby Shop (preliminary working name, subject to change). The initial launch is slated for February, when Baby Shop branded areas will commence operations on the floors of ten to twelve Carousel hypermarkets in St Petersburg. Baby Shop will specialize in [...]

Singapore’s industrial production rose by 14.4% YoY (and by seasonally adjusted 18% over November). In November output fell by 9.5% YoY (and a revised 4.6% MoM).