Stocks in the news: HDFC, ITC, SBI, ACC, Tata Motors, Grasim, Balaji Tele, UltraTech

Here are stocks that are in news today:

Results today: Hindustan Unilever, UltraTech Cement, CRISIL, Sundaram Finance, Network 18, TV18 Broadcast, Jubilant Life, Jay Bharat Maruti, Maharashtra Scooters, TCFC Finance, Sasken Technologies, Kothari World, JSL Industries, HIL, Bharat Seats, Artson Engg

ACC Q2
-Consolidated revenue up 20.5 percent at Rs 3,959 crore versus Rs 3,286 crore (YoY)
-Consolidated profit up 32.6 percent at Rs 326.2 crore versus Rs 246.1 crore (YoY)
-Consolidated operating profit up 37.7 percent at Rs 636.8 crore versus Rs 462.4 crore (YoY)
-Consolidated EBITDA margin at 18.4 percent versus 16 percent (YoY)
-Tax expense at Rs 155.6 crore versus Rs 83 crore (YoY)
-Cement sales volume at 6.74 mt versus 6.12 mt (YoY)

IOC
-Government plans to create three oil PSU giants
-IOC is likely to acquire the government's 66.13 percent stake in upstream firm Oil India

Tata Motors
-Develops first bio-methane bus
-As JLR touches USD 20 billion, Credit Suisse says list China JV

HDFC Life
-HDFC & Standard Life to sell up to 20 percent of paid-up & issue equity share capital
-Believe, Max Life merger can create strategic value if gets regulatory nod

Max Financial
-Have been working on Max Life-HDFC Life deal for long
-Working on 2-3 structure to make Max Life-HDFC Life merger deal work
-It will be a major value creation if Max Life & HDFC Life are merged
-Premature to talk about structures we are discussing about Max & HDFC Life

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley - ITC, Godfrey Phillips, VST Industries in focus
-GST Council had only one item on July 17’s agenda
-Impact of the cascading effect going had not been adequately factored in
-GST rate on cigarette remains at 28 percent & ad valoream at 5 percent
For filter & non-filter cigarettes:
-Numerical value raised by Rs 485 per 1000 sticks for cigarettes up to 65 mmFor filter cigarettes:
-Numerical value raised by Rs 621 per 1000 sticks for cigarettes between 65-70 mm
-Numerical value raised by Rs 792 per 1000 sticks for cigarettes between 70-75 mm
-Propose 31 percent increase in cigarettes of other categories
-New ad valorem rates on cigarettes above 75 mm at 36 percent

Other stocks and sectors that are in news today:
-SBI files DRHP with SEBI for SBI Life IPO of up to 12 crore shares
-Zee Media Corp has established a wholly owned subsidiary in the name and style of Ez-Mall Online to engage in web-based e-commerce business, to complement TV-based e-commerce business currently
-Bajaj Hindusthan Sugars in focus - CARE revises rating to D from BB+ on long term bank facilities
-First bakery and confectionery unit of Speciality Restaurants called 'DARIOLE' has opened its doors for commercial operations
-Balaji Telefilms board meeting on July 20 to consider various fund raising options including raising funds through issue of securities on preferential basis
-HCC allots 47.59 lakh shares to Vijaya Bank on loan conversion under S4A
-Dabur Honey hit by Patanjali's aggressive pricing: BS
-Aditya Birla Nuvo transfers 23 percent stake in Idea Cellular to Grasim
-Bhushan Steel - NCLT to hear plea on Wednesday: IE
-HPCL drags Hindustan Motors to insolvent tribunal: BS
-Britannia mulls expansion of dairy business: BS
-Shriram Transport Finance Committee approves raising up to Rs 300 crore via NCDs
-NOCIL says raised stake in Mafatlal Industries by 4.92 percent to 14.05 percent

Disclosure: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.