** Shares of cement companies including ACC ACC.NS , Ambuja
Cements ABUJ.NS , Grasim GRAS.NS , Nuvoco Vistas NUVO.NS ,
The Ramco Cements TRCE.NS and J K Cement JKCE.NS rise
between 0.5% and 3% after analysts forecast recovery in earnings
growth in Q4
** Systematix Institutional Equities says it expects margin
expansion to continue in March quarter, driven by higher
volumes, lower energy costs and operating leverage benefits
** Adds that Ultratech Cement ULTC.NS , Shree Cement
SHCM.NS , JK Cement and The Ramco Cements to report
double-digit volume growth in Q4
** Core profit per tonne to improve further due to decline
in petcoke and coal prices and stable diesel prices - Systematix
** Global brokerage Citi also expects expansion in core
profit per tonne in Q4 despite muted cement prices
** Falling raw material costs could lead to profitability
for cement companies in March quarter - Citi
** The brokerage upgrades Dalmia Bharat DALB.NS to "buy"
from "neutral" on cheap valuations; reiterates buy on ACC,
Ambuja and Ultratech
(Reporting by Bharath Rajeswaran in Bengaluru)
((bharath.rajeswaran@thomsonreuters.com; +91 9769003463))