Infosys on Friday posted a mixed set of numbers for the March quarter as well as the entire financial year 2018-19 (FY19) but gave a muted estimate on revenue growth for the current year, apart from slashing its operating margin forecast for the second consecutive year.

Despite clocking 9 per cent revenue growth in constant currency terms for FY19 against its guided range of 6.5-8.5 per cent for the period, the country’s second-largest information technology services company guided for only 7.5-9.5 per cent revenue growth in FY20.

Infosys shares hit a new high of Rs 774, up 1 per cent, on the BSE in early morning trade on Tuesday ahead of its January-March quarter (Q4FY19) results on Friday. The stock has surpassed its previous high of Rs 771 touched on February 8, 2019, in intra-day trade.

In the past three weeks, Infosys has outperformed the market by gaining 9 per cent, after the IT major commenced buyback offer on March 20. In comparison, the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex was up 2 per cent and the sector index S&P BSE IT index was up 6 per cent during the same period.

Infosys shares were trading higher for the fifth straight day, up 1.3 per cent, at Rs 765 on Tuesday in intra-day trade, gaining 5 per cent in one week on the BSE. In comparison, the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex was up 2 per cent during the week.

The stock was trading close to its all-time high of Rs 771 touched on February 2, 2019 on the BSE. It has recovered 8 per cent from its recent low of Rs 710 on March 18, against 2.5 per cent rise in the benchmark index.

A sharp rally in three private sector banks – HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank – that have gained over 10 per cent each from their August 29, 2018 level helped the benchmark index S&P BSE Sensex breeze past the 39,000 mark and hit a new high on Monday. The benchmark index surpassed its previous high of 38,990 recorded on August 29, 2018 in intra-day deals.

The Nifty50, too, breached the 11,700 level for the first time since September 2018 to hit an intra-day high of 11,716.

Infosys, through its wholly owned subsidiary Infosys Consulting, is set to acquire 75% of Stater NV — a wholly owned subsidiary of ABN Amro Bank NV— that offers pure-play, end-to-end mortgage administration services in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. The cash transaction, which is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, will amount to €127.50 million ($143.53 million), Infosys said.

IT company Infosys Friday said it would invest $10 million (nearly Rs 70 crore) in California-based artificial intelligence-focussed The House Fund II.

"The company announced today that it will be entering into an agreement with The House Fund II, LP, an AI-focused fund targeting start-ups from the University of California, Berkeley, committing to invest $10 million," the company said in a note.

IT company Infosys Friday said it would invest $10 million (nearly Rs 70 crore) in California-based artificial intelligence-focussed The House Fund II.

"The company announced today that it will be entering into an agreement with The House Fund II, LP, an AI-focused fund targeting start-ups from the University of California, Berkeley, committing to invest $10 million," the company said in a note.

Indian entrepreneurs have to move away from being reactive problem solvers to proactive problem solvers as there are so many problems around, Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy said. The renowned IT industrialist also highlighted areas of opportunities in sectors such as healthcare for entrepreneurs to build unique solutions.

Even as INFO’s revenue growth improves — its FY19 EBIT margin exit at 22- 22.5% followed by wage hikes in 1QFY20, pose a risk to consensus EBIT estimate of 23.4% for FY20. This is a key concern weighing on the stock’s attractiveness. INFO’s recent revival under Salil Parekh in revenue growth came with an EBIT margin decline of 120bp, despite INR/USD depreciating 11% during the same period.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has accepted Infosys’ consent plea and settled the charges of disclosure lapses pertaining to the severance package paid to the company's former chief financial officer (CFO) Rajiv Bansal.

According to a Sebi order passed on February 15, the IT major has paid Rs 34.35 lakh to the regulator under the settlement proceedings regulation.

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