**Shares of Asian Paints ASPN.NS up 1.8% to 2,160 rupees
**As per media reports, the company hikes prices between 6% and 8% across its decorative portfolio in two phases starting April 10
**Follows a 1%-2% price hike by Berger Paints BRGR.NS and 2%-3% price hike by Kansai Nerolac KANE.NS effective March 25
**Macquarie ("Outperform"; PT: 3,100 rupees) says co's price hike is part of historical patterns of companies taking price hikes to pass on input inflation
**Brokerage believes margin headwinds linked to input cost inflation are more near-term in nature
**Stock rated as "Hold" on average by 35 analysts; median PT at 2,730 rupees per data compiled by LSEG
**YTD, stock down 21.5%
(Reporting by Mridula Kumar in Bengaluru)
((Mridula.Kumar@thomsonreuters.com;))