Stock prices is due to valuation expansion

HUL, UltraTech, Asian Paints, L&T, HDFC Bank top global valuation charts

Sales expansion also down 4.4%

Higher crude oil prices also translate into better corporate earnings for India's top companies

The amount is around a fifth of the cumulative investment in fixed assets by these companies.

Investors often forget that the movements in indices such as the Sensex reflects the performance of its constituent stocks; nothing else.

A full-blown recovery remained elusive for India Inc in the July-September quarter, even as it overcame the challenge of achieving profitable growth.

With mutual funds, promoters turning net-buyers, foreign investors may have to bid up prices to raise holdings.

The analysis covers BSE 200 Index's 171 companies for which data on the compensation to the boards of directors for FY14 and FY13 are available.

Impact of the slowdown is most visible among promoter/owner-CEOs

That resulted in a 50-basis point improvement in operating profit margins on a sequential basis.

Firms generated free cash flows in 2013-14, for the first time since the 2008 Lehman crisis

Mid- and small-cap funds dominate the list, opening up opportunity for investors to make contra bets in large-cap funds

Many say Tata Motors has perhaps paid the price for being too ambitious.

Their share in overall market capitalisation of BSE stocks has risen to a four-year high

Shree Cement beats ACC in market value, Lupin ahead of Dr Reddy's Labs

Combined debt-equity ratio of top companies declines but interest expenses outgrow profits.

The company's production began to rise in the 80s, when restrictions were progressively relaxed.

Companies with contrasting financial ratios enjoy similar credit ratings; agencies say they look at many other metrics.

Leverage ratio falls to under 1; but group heavily dependent on TCS & Tata Motors.