BNP raises Bharti Airtel to 'buy', cuts Reliance Comm

BNP Paribas upgraded India's Bharti Airtel Ltdto "buy" from "hold", it said in a note on Thursday.

Bharti is well positioned to benefit from an improving outlook for the sector, including a consolidating industry, the return of pricing power, and an expected "strong" pick up in wireless data use, says BNP.

BNP also retains its "buy" rating on Idea Cellular Ltd, calling the stock its "top pick" in the sector as the company is a "pure play" GSM mobile operator.

However, BNP cut Reliance Communications Ltdto "reduce" from "hold" after noting shares had rallied 33.5 percent in the past three months.

Reliance Communications would have to pay for excess spectrum while suffering from "high" debt and lagging operating performance, BNP adds.

Bharti Airtel shares are down 0.8 percent as of 11:50 a.m. Idea is up 0.1 percent, while Reliance Communications is flat.