Infosys Q1 profit up 17 pct, beats forecast

Infosys Technologies Ltd, India's No. 2 software services exporter, reported a 17.2 per cent rise in quarterly profit, beating market expectations, as it boosted sales in newer markets.

The Nasdaq-listed firm, which develops applications, designs supply chains and offers back-office services, said net profit rose to Rs 15.27 billion ($314 million) in April-June, its fiscal first quarter, from 13.02 billion a year ago.

A Reuters poll had estimated a net profit of Rs 13.97 billion for Infosys, which counts Goldman Sachs, Philips Electronics, BT Group Plc and Australia's top phone company Telstra Corp among its clients.

Powered by an army of low-cost, English-speaking workers, India's $60 billion outsourcing sector provides services ranging from managing complex computer networks and call centres to software coding to maintaining technology operations.

The industry's leading customers are struggling to stay afloat, have gone bankrupt, or are tackling severe cost cuts, leaving little room to boost technology spending.

Infosys, rivals Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro also face competition from big players, IBM, Accenture and Hewlett-Packard who have raided their home-turf and are winning contracts.

Shares in Infosys, valued at more than $20 billion, climbed 34 per cent in April-June versus a 44 per cent rise in the sector index and a 49 per cent jump in the main index.