The net profit of Gujarat Ambuja Cements increased by 194.1 per cent to Rs 50 crore during July-September 1999 (Rs17 crore). The sales of the company increased by 16.1 per cent during the quarter.

On the other hand, Polaris Software's net profit increased by 308.8 per cent to Rs 12.14 crore (Rs 2.97 crore) during Q2. The main income of Polaris Softwareincreased by 150.5 per cent to Rs 34.17 crore. Similarly, Nucleus Software's net profit rose by 236.4 per cent to Rs 37 lakh (Rs 11 lakh) during July-September 1999. The main income of Nucleus Software increased by 62.4 per cent to Rs 2.68 crore.

The aggregate sales of the 64 companies rose by 24.4 per cent to Rs 3,867 crore (Rs 3,108 crore) during Q2 1999. Operating profit rose by 36.9 per cent from Rs 748 crore to Rs 1024 crore. Gross profit also rose by 47.4 per cent to Rs 899 crore (Rs 610 crore). This was probably due to significant increases in gross profit by Bliss Chemicals & Pharma, Gabriel India, Infosys, Jindal Steel & Power, Mack Trading, Mastek, Nucleus Software, Polaris Software, Silverline, Sonata Software and Triumph International.

And the profit before tax (PBT) of these companies also rose by 59.8 per cent to Rs 673 crore (Rs 421 crore). Sixteen companies have recorded an increase of 100 per cent or more, including, once again, Bliss Chemicals, Jindal Steel, Mastek, Polaris and TriumphInternational. At the profit-after-tax level, 12 companies have reported an increase of more than 100 per cent, with Mastek recording an increase of more than 822 per cent.

Only 10 companies recorded lower net profits. Significant losses were reported by a few companies during July-September 1999. Among them: Herdillia Oxides (-Rs 1.44 crore), Mangalore Chemicals (-Rs 5.89 crore) and Prime Securities (-Rs 1.18 crore).

The PAT to sales ratio rose from 11.10 per cent in July-September 1998 to 14.50 per cent in July-September 1999. A significant upward trend in the ratio can be seen in the case of Bliss Chemicals (11.67 per cent in July-September 1998 to 38.10 per cent in July-September 1999), Gujarat Ambuja Cements (7.02 per cent to 17.79 per cent), Infosys (23.67 per cent to 31.55 per cent), Jindal Steel & Power (5.83 per cent to 26.45 per cent), Mack Trading (20 per cent to 75 per cent), Mastek(5.12 per cent to 25.66 per cent), Nucleus Software (6.67 per cent to 13.81 per cent) and Polaris Software(21.77 per cent to 35.53 per cent).

A significant decline in the ratio during July-September 1999 was recorded by BFL Software (30.09 per cent in July-September 1998 to 6.38 per cent in July-September 1999), Janki Securities (30 per cent to 15.38 per cent), Perfect Circle Victor (18.78 per cent to 10.92 per cent), Sab Nife Power Systems (29.15 per cent to 10.83 per cent), Samrat Industrial Resources (354.55 per cent to 50 per cent) and VMC Software (91.67 per cent to 67.62 per cent).

Among the 64 companies, the top five in respect of net profit as a percentage of sales were Punjab Produce & Trading (205.69 per cent), Cyber Tech (76.02 per cent), Mack Trading (75 per cent), VMC Software (67.62 per cent) and Samrat Industrial Resources (50 per cent). Profit after tax formed less than five per cent of sales during July-September 1999 in the case of eight companies. Notable among them are Flat Products Equipment (1.01 per cent), Gabriel India (1.27 per cent) and Malvika Steel (1.48 per cent).