Prices as well as volumes shot on the bourse. From an average daily level of 10,000-15,000 shares on April 15, the Nucleus Software counter registered volumes of 1.15 lakh shares.

Delhi-based Nucleus Software, which is mainly into banking and other financial services related software, recently got an order from Times Bank. Times Bank will be using `Finnesse', a financial software developed by the company which helps firms manage deposits and lending operations and also helps in maintaining general ledger for the non-banking financial outfits.

The product is already being used by HDFC Bank, Avco Financial Services, American Express Bank and ahost of other big companies in India and abroad.

The company officials, however, assign the recent rise in prices to the market's gradual acceptance of its products. According to them, the third quarter ended March 1999 has been very good for Nucleus. Apart from Times Bank, the company is also awaiting confirmation from some other companies which will give a definite boost to its bottomline.

As part of its growth strategy, Nucleus is in the process of exploring new markets abroad.

Acquisition augurs well for Lakhotia Infotech
The acquisition of Rs 64-crore Lakhotia Computers Centre (LCC) by Calcutta-based Lakhotia Infotech (LIL) augurs well for the shareholders of the later. Post-merger, LIL has some detailed plans for further expansion. If these plans are executed as have been chalked-out, the shareholders of this former housing finance company can expect some decent appreciation in their holdings in the company.

Earlier in July 1998, Arihant Housing & Finance was rechristened LakhotiaInfotech after it was taken over by Suresh C Lakhotia. Currently, the LIL scrip on the Bombay Stock Exchange trades near the Rs 33 level, down from its recent high of Rs 52 on March 22.

LCC is the third largest computer education and training chain in India and had generated a revenue in excess of Rs 60 crore during the fiscal ended March 1999. There are around 550 computer training centres under the LCC chain currently operating in India and the company is planning to add another 200 to its existing number during the current fiscal.

Around 25 of the 200 new training centres will be opened outside India. This, according to LIL, would give a big boost to its total revenue during the current fiscal and it expects a turnover of Rs 125 crore. In addition, the company plans to set up software development centres at Calcutta, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

It is also planning a forey into enterprise resource planning (ERP) consulting during the current fiscal. Other value-added services like e-commerce andinternet-based services would also be added to its current range of services soon.