Share markets in India are presently trading marginally higher. Sectoral indices are trading mixed with stocks in the FMCG sector and realty sector witnessing maximum buying interest while telecom stocks and consumer durable stocks are witnessing selling pressure.

The BSE Sensex is trading up by 97 points (up 0.3%), while the NSE Nifty is trading up by 27 points (up 0.3%). The BSE Mid Cap index is trading up by 0.3% while the BSE Small Cap index is trading up by 0.1%.

The rupee is trading at Rs 70.57 against the US$.

The rupee appreciated against the US$ in early trade today after retail inflation declined marginally to 2.1% in January.

On Tuesday, the currency appreciated by 48 paise to close at one-month high of 70.70 against the US dollar, registering its sixth straight session of gain.

Market participants are tracking Godrej Industries share price, Repco Home Finance share price, Ruchi Soya share price, and Talwarkars Better Value Fitness share price today as these are among companies which are scheduled to report their quarterly earnings today.

You can also read our recently released Q3FY19 results of other companies here: Reliance Industries, Infosys, TCS, Trident, HDFC bank, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Aurobindo Pharma, MRF, Gillette, Sun Pharma.

Bata India share price is witnessing buying interest today after the company reported strong growth of 51% in net profit at Rs 1.1 billion in December 2018 quarter (Q3FY19).

The footwear company had a profit of Rs 0.7 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Revenues grew 16% at Rs 7.8 billion in Q3FY19 against Rs 6.7 billion in the corresponding quarter of previous fiscal.

EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization) margin improved 450 basis points to 21% from 16%.

Shares of the company hit new highs and gained around 4% in early trade on back of the above news.

Moving on to the news from the pharma space, Strides pharma science share price is in focus today as the company's wholly owned subsidiary - Strides Pharma Global, Singapore, has received approval for Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream USP, 0.025%, 0.1% and 0.5% from the United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA).

The product is a generic version of Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream of Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Reportedly, the US market for Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream USP, 0.025%, 0.1% and 0.5% is approximately $55 million.

The product will be manufactured at flagship facility in Bangalore and will be marketed by Strides Pharma Inc. in the US market.

Last month, the company had reported net profit of Rs 3 billion for the December ended quarter. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 0.9 billion for the corresponding period last year.

Consolidated revenue from operations of the company stood at Rs 7.9 billion for the December quarter against Rs 7.5 billion for the same period a year ago.

Strides pharma science share price is presently trading down by 1.7%.

In another news, Cadila healthcare share price has received the final approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market Triamterene and Hydrochlorothiazide Capsules USP (US RLD-DYAZIDE), 37.5 mg/25 mg.

It will be manufactured at the group's formulations manufacturing facility at SEZ, Ahmedabad.

The fixed dose combination of Triamterene and Hydrochlorothiazide is indicated for the treatment of hypertension or edema in patients who have developed hypokalemia (low serum potassium levels) on Hydrochlorothiazide alone.

It is also indicated for those patients who require a thiazide diuretic and in whom the development of hypokalemia cannot be risked.

Cadila Healthcare share price is presently trading down by 0.3%.

To know more about the company, you can read Cadila Healthcare Q3FY19 result analysis and Cadila Healthcare Annual report analysis on our website.

Speaking of pharma sector, note that the BSE Healthcare Index has been on a roller coaster ride in the past few years. The period from 2012 to 2015 saw the index go up more than three times.

And since then it has been a painful ride downwards, as can be seen from the chart below:

The Roller Coaster Ride of the BSE Healthcare Index

As we wrote in one of our editions of The 5 Minute WrapUp...

• Pre-2015, pharma companies enjoyed a fairytale ride in the US market. Low labor costs, good chemistry skills, along with efficiency, ensured Indian companies could copy innovator drugs to make generic drugs at a fast pace.
  
  The generic business had lucrative margins for all major pharma players. But the party did not last long. In the quest to supply drugs quickly, they compromised on quality at their manufacturing facilities.
  
  No wonder, the US regulatory authority (USFDA) took strict action. Sun Pharma received a warning letter for its Halol manufacturing facility in 2015. It was like a bolt out of the blue. Since then, the downward spiral began and has continued till date.

We believe that pharma companies that invest in creating a pipeline of complex generics or building competencies in alternative dosage forms are better equipped to tackle the changing dynamics in the US generics market as well as in the overall industry.

To know more on what moved the Indian stock markets today, you can check out the most recent share market updates here.