Shares of midcap banks are trading higher today. Syndicate Bank touched an intraday high of Rs 121.55 and an intraday low of Rs 115.90. At 14:55 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 119.95, up Rs 4.20, or 3.63%. It was trading with volumes of 250,315 shares.

Tata Communications touched an intraday high of Rs 252.80 and an intraday low of Rs 233. At 14:26 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 250.75, up Rs 14.25, or 6.03%.

Great Offshore touched an intraday high of Rs 267.15 and an intraday low of Rs 240. At 14:22 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 263.75, up Rs 19.85, or 8.14%.

Koutons Retail India touched an intraday high of Rs 36.45 and an intraday low of Rs 34.45. At 14:19 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 36.45, up Rs 3.30, or 9.95%.

Asit C. Mehta is bullish on Indraprastha Gas and has recommended buy rating on the stock with a target of Rs 357 in its March 28, 2011 research report.

Mercator Lines touched an intraday high of Rs 40.50 and an intraday low of Rs 38.30. At 14:02 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 40, up Rs 1.60, or 4.17%.

India hopes to sign within three months contracts for 33 oil and gas exploration blocks under the ninth licensing round, the oil secretary told reporters on Monday.

DB Realty touched a 52-week low of Rs 93. At 13:38 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 93.85, down Rs 3.15, or 3.25%.

Atlanta has signed pact to buy property in Mumbai suburb. The company is going to construct residential property in Kandivali, Mumbai, reports CNBC-TV18. It touched an intraday high of Rs 98.60 and an intraday low of Rs 90.05. At 13:34 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 91.95, up Rs 2.40, or 2.68%.

Indian equity benchmarks touched the important psychological levels at 13:30 hours - the Nifty hit the 5,700 mark and the Sensex 19,000 level - supported by financial, infrastructure, FMCG and auto companies' shares.

Uflex touched an intraday high of Rs 148.50 and an intraday low of Rs 133. At 13:20 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 143.45, up Rs 10.55, or 7.94%.

According to the latest updates, the economic affairs secretary R. Gopalan said that RBI is planning to release draft guidelines for new bank licenses this week.

Reliance Industries has bid for six oil and gas exploration blocks while Cairn India submitted offers for two out of the 34 on offer in the 9th round of auction under the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP). ONGC too has submitted bids for 28 of these blocks.

Mawana Sugars plans to double its branded sugar output to 20,000 tonnes in FY12, a top official told reporters on Monday.

Archies touched an intraday high of Rs 40.10 and an intraday low of Rs 35.30. At 13:07 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 39.30, up Rs 4.25, or 12.13%.

PBA Infrastructure touched an intraday high of Rs 67.85 and an intraday low of Rs 57.70. At 13:05 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 67.85, up Rs 11.30, or 19.98%.

CRISIL Research has come out with its report on eClerx Services. Crisil assignes a CRISIL IER fundamental grade of 4/5. EBITDA margin is expected to stabilise at ~35% in FY13 vs. ~39% in FY10. EPS is expected to increase at a three-year CAGR of 28% to Rs 53.2 in FY13. We expect RoE of 53% in FY11 and 43% in FY13.

According to IIFL, traders can sell Balrampur Chini Mills Future below Rs 71 with stop loss of Rs 73.50 for target of Rs 66, in its March 28, 2011 research report.

India has received 74 bids for 33 oil and gas exploration blocks in the ninth licensing round, a government source told reporters on Monday.

Parsvnath Developers touched an intraday high of Rs 48.45 and an intraday low of Rs 42.05. At 12:47 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 47.95, up Rs 5.50, or 12.96%.

RBI Reference Rate for US $ and Euro

According to IIFL, traders can sell Ambuja Cement Future in the range of Rs 140.5-141.5 with stop loss of Rs 143.5 for target of Rs 134.5, in its March 28, 2011 research report.

Kamat Hotels India Ltd (KHIL) today announced the merger of its restaurant business, Kamat Restaurants, and its Lotus Resorts units in Murud and Goa with itself.

Sterlite Industries touched an intraday high of Rs 168 and an intraday low of Rs 163.70. At 12:22 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 164.35, down Rs 4.20, or 2.49%.

Jubilant Life Sciences touched a 52-week low of Rs 149.80. At 12:17 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 149.80, down Rs 5.10, or 3.29%.