Stocks in Focus on March 23: FMCG to Auto Companies and Dalmia Bharat; here are the 5 Newsmakers of the Day

Snapping four days of losing streak, domestic benchmark indices surged on Friday, March 20, 2020, amid hopes of a stimulus package by the government. The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange zoomed 1,627.73 points, or 5.75 per cent, to end at 29,915.96, today. The Nifty at the National Stock exchange jumped 482 points, or 5.83 per cent, to 8,745.45. But certain stocks came in news after the market was closed and can impact the indices when it reopens on Monday, March 23, 2020. List of such five stocks: 

HUL/FMCG Companies in Focus: Hindustan Unilever (HUL) on Friday said it is pledging Rs 100 crore towards fighting coronavirus in India. Plus, it announced plans to slash prices of its personal care and home hygiene brands, Lifebuoy sanitiser and liquid hand wash, and Domex floor cleaner, by 15%. Besides, Godrej Consumer (GCPL) and ITC on Sunday slashed the price of their entry-level hand sanitizer packs under Godrej Protekt and Savlon, respectively, by nearly 66 per cent, in response to Hindustan Unilever (HUL) reducing its prices. A 50-ml Godrej Protekt pack will now cost Rs 25 against Rs 75 earlier. A 55-ml pack of ITC’s Savlon will now be available for Rs 27 versus Rs 77 earlier.

Auto Sector in Focus: Automobile companies have announced shut down at its plants in different parts of the country. 

Maruti Suzuki: The Company on Sunday announced its decision to stop manufacturing vehicles in the two factories located at Gurugram and Manesar in Haryana till further notice. The research and development centre at Rohtak will also remain closed.
 
Hero MotoCorp: India’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer has shut down operations across all its manufacturing and assembly plants including the units in India, Colombia and Bangladesh with immediate effect till March 31, 2020. However, it said that the employees at all the other functions and locations including the Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur, Rajasthan will continue to work from home, except for those whose physical presence is necessary to run the day-to-day essential services.

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (M&M): It will shut down its tractor production facility in Nagpur with immediate effect to protect their workers against the deadly coronavirus. All operations at its Chakan (Pune) and Kandivali (Mumbai) units will close down by end of Monday, a company release sent to the stock exchanges said. It did not say how long the suspension will last.

TVS Motors: The Company has decided to shut operations at all its manufacturing facilities and offices for two days effective March 23, 2020. The Company would take further steps after reviewing the situation.
Escorts Limited: The Company has decided to shut down its production facility at Faridabad till March 31, 2020. 
SML ISUZU: The Company has decided to temporarily close its manufacturing operations in Punjab till March 31, 2020. Rest of the employees will be working from home.
 
Force Motors: The Company has announced the suspension of its operations at Akurdi plant from Monday and will go on until March 31, 2020, while essential services will remain operational.
Goodyear India Limited: The Company has decided to close manufacturing operations at Ballabgarh plant till Mar 31, 2020.

Retail Companies in Focus: 

Future Retail: It has announced that in the wake of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak most of the stores of the Company, in most of the States, are closed except selling only essential commodities and grocery items. The said stores will operate until the time permitted by the respective local/regulatory authorities. It also said that this pandemic will adversely affect the company’s business.
 
Future Lifestyle Fashions: The Company has announced that most of its fashion retail stores have been temporarily shut down amid COVID-19 outbreak.

Siemens Limited: The Company has announced the closure of some of its manufacturing facilities across India. 
Whirlpool India Limited: The Company has decided to suspend manufacturing operations at its Faridabad and Pune manufacturing facilities with immediate effect until March 31, 2020.

Other companies who have announced the closure of its production units in view of escalating COVID-10 situation are Shree Cement, Birla Corporation Limited, GHCL, Minda Industries and Sandhar Technologies among others.

 Dalmia Bharat: Cement maker Dalmia Bharat Ltd on Saturday said its board has approved a proposal to buy back shares worth up to Rs 500 crore. The company further said it intends to buy not more than 71,42,857 shares at a maximum price of Rs 700 per unit.

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HDFC Limited: National Housing Bank (NHB) has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 85,000 plus GST o the corporation for non-compliance with two provisions of the Housing Finance Companies (NHB) directions, 2010, during the financial year 2017-18.