8:00AM Gerdau Ameristeel agreed to buy Chaparral Steel for $4.22 billion.

Steelmaker Gerdau Ameristeel (GNA) announced after the closing bell Tuesday that it agreed to acquire Chaparral Steel Co. in a deal worth $4.22 billion, or $86 per share. The transaction is a 14% premium over Chaparral''s closing price of $75.69 on Tuesday.

Gerdau sees the deal helping to further diversify its offerings. It is expected to create more than $55 million in annual operating savings by the end of next year. The company said it may issue equity securities after the transaction is complete with the support of majority shareholder Gerdau SA.

The transaction, which is subject to Chaparral shareholder approval, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, is expected to close before the end of the year. Boards of the two companies unanimously approved the acquisition. Gerdau''s financial advisor, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., is providing $4.6 billion in financing commitments for the transaction.


7:30AM NY – 6:30 PM Mumbai Sensex sheds 99 points after Infosys tumbles.

The Sensex on BSE finished 99.26 points lower, or 0.66%, at 14,910.62.

The Sensex opened with a negative bias of 62 points at 14,948. The index plunged to a low of 14,830, down 180 points from the previous close in early deals. Then on strong performance of metal stocks the index bounced back into positive zone, touching an intra-day high of 15,015 in morning deals. Then it got lackluster on weak IT stocks.

Apart from the IT sector, auto and banking stocks also suffered profit taking and declined. However, cement, metal and offshore oil services firms advanced.

The market-breadth was strong, though. Out of 2,694 stocks traded on the market, 1,444 stocks advanced, 1,183 declined, and 67 were unchanged. Of the 30 stocks in the Sensex, 12 advanced, 17 declined and one remained unchanged. The turnover on BSE was Rs 5,473 crore, higher than Rs 5,111 crore on Tuesday. On NSE, the turnover was Rs 11,183 crore, compared to Rs 10,720 crore on Tuesday.

Economic news

The rise of the rupee may be stopped as there are speculations that the Reserve Bank of India may intervene and sell the currency to protect exports. The rupee is the second-best performing Asian currency this year as foreign funds accelerate their purchases of local shares in view of the fast growing economy. The rupee has increased 9.5% in 2007.

Infosys

Infosys Technologies Ltd., the second-largest computer-services provider in India, reduced its profit and sales guidance after a stronger rupee affected the value of earnings from the U.S., its largest market. The company revised upwards its earnings forecasts in dollar terms to a growth of 28.4% to 29.7% lower than the earlier guidance of 25.7% to 27.7% growth. In rupee terms, the company revised its guidance downwards in the range of 15.6% to 16.8% lower than the earlier guidance in the range of 20% to 22% growth. It has also cut the revenue guidance in rupee terms in the range of 16.9% to 18.3%, from the earlier guidance of a growth of 22.6% to 24.6%.

Trading highlights

Infosys was also the most active stock with a turnover of Rs 299 crore followed by DLF and Roman Tarmat.

Advancers of the Day

Grasim surged 3.4% to Rs 2,819 and Tata Steel also rallied 3.4% to Rs 655. Reportedly, steel consumption will grow 16% per year until 2012, or twice as fast as in the past five years, powered by strong demand for construction projects worth $1 trillion.

Hopes for strong earnings results drove cement stocks higher. ACC soared over 3% to Rs 1,069, UltraTech Cement Company was up 1.60% to Rs 897 and Birla Corporation gained 4.3% to Rs 286.

Reliance Energy rose 2% to Rs 626 and Hindustan Unilever rallied 2% to Rs 202.