Leading public sector lender Indian Bank has announced its financial results for the third quarter of the current financial year. The bank posted 14 per cent increase in net profit which stands at Rs 350.70 crore as compared to Rs 307.50 in the same period last quarter.

Its total income increased to Rs 2071.37 crore as compared to Rs 1676.00 crore in previous quarter.

The bank said in a filing before BSE, "The additional segments of corporate banking and retail banking have been included for the quarter and for the nine months ended

LIC Housing Finance (LICHFL) is planning to launch its new financial arm in the current quarter. The decision is aimed to strengthen its distribution network across the country. The company would start its new financial arm, headquartered at Bombay and expand its network across country at later stage.

The Director and Chief Executive of LICHFL, R R Nair said, "We are launching our financial services subsidiary called LIC Housing Finance Financial Services which will help us improve our disbursement of loans and other financial products, during the quarter."

Leading pharmaceutical company Dr. Reddy's Laboratories announced its financial results for the third quarter ended December 31, 08. The company posted net profit of
192.40-crore in the reporting period as compared to loss of Rs 121.30 crore in the same period last year.

Its revenue stood at Rs 1,840 crore in Q3 as compared to Rs 1,231 crore in the third quarter of financial year 2007-08.

Hero Honda Motors Ltd has announced financial results for third quarter of this financial year. The auto maker reported 7.1 per cent increase for Q3 despite 4 per cent drop in sales.

It should be recalled that government had announced 4 per cent excise duty cut in the economic booster package which helped to propel demand in automobile sector. Banks had also cut auto interest rates in line with key rate revision by Reserve Bank.

Lalit Khaitan family owned Radico Khaitan Ltd is planning to sell about 26 per cent stake to global drink giants according to reports of financial newspaper The Economic Times. Bacardi and Pernod Ricard have shown interest to buy stakes in Radico as per banking and industry sources.

Radico Khaitan is the second largest spirits company in the country and known for its liquor brands 8PM Whiskey and Magic Moments Vodka. Promoters hold 48.7 per cent stakes in Radico Khaitan Ltd.

Country's third largest software exporter, Wipro has announced its results for third the quarter. The company posted net profit of Rs 10.04 billion for Q3 ended December 31,
08. the company posted net profit of Rs 8.54 billion for the same period last year.

Its total income stands at Rs 67.73 billion as compared to Rs 54.33 billion a year ago. The company posted 26 per cent increase in its operating profit.