What to watch. Will Tata Steel show strong numbers?

Analysts expect a sharp fall in Tata Steel’s standalone net profit for the October-December quarter, as against the year-ago period. Due to a fall in realisations, analysts say net profit could decline 25-30 per cent, while topline growth could be flat. The steel major is announcing its quarterly numbers on Friday. Recently, Moody’s upgraded Tata Steel’s ratings to ‘stable’ outlook, on expectations that Tata Steel UK Holdings (Corus) will have less drag on the group.