Markets may extend its rally

Headlines for the day

BHEL Plans locomotive JV with Siemens, Alstom - DNA Money

Pantaloon Retail to spend Rs400 crore on expansion - DNA Money

Survey shows jobs are back, direct hirings on the rise - Business Line

ICICI Bank may sell 3i Info stake to US PE firm - Business Standard

Usha Martin InfoTech okays capital restructuring - Business Standard

Events for the day

Major corporate action:

Ex-date for dividend of Salzer Electronics Ltd.

Ex-date for interim dividend of Gail India Ltd.

Weekly inflation numbers

Pre-market report

Global signals

The European stocks closed higher on Wednesday as banking stock rose. FTSE 100 closed 0.82% higher at 5372.

On Wednesday, the US markets that opened strong, slips after sales of newly builtUS Single family homes fell to their lowest level in seven months. At the end Nasdaq closed at 2270, 17 points higher.

In today's trade, all the Asian indices are trading higher except for Straits Times that is trading marginally lower by 0.12%. At the time of writing this report, SGX Nifty is trading 10 points higher.

Indian markets

Following the positive cues from the global market, domestic markets may extend its gaininig streak in todays trade.

Among the local indices, the Nifty could test the 5182-5200 range on the up side, while on the down side it could find support at 5050 and 5100. While the Sensex is likely to get support at 17000 and may face resistance at 17394.

Indian ADR's

Indian ADRs trading on the US bourses, all the ADRs able to closed higher except Satyam & Dr. Reddy. Among gainers HDFC Bank surged the most with gain of 2.96%.

Commodity cues

In the commodity space, wherein the Crude oil prices recorded significant gains, with the Nymex light crude oil for February series surged by $2.27 to settle at $76.67 a barrel.

In the metals space, Comex Gold for February series rose $7.80 to settle at $1094.50 to a troy ounce.

Daily trend of FII/MF investment in equities

On December 2, 2009, FIIs were the net Buyers of the Indian Stocks in the tune of Rs224.90 crore (with the gross purchase of Rs1410.80 crore and gross sales of Rs1185.80 crore).

While the Domestic mutual funds, on December 21, 2009, were the net seller of the stocks in the tune of Rs174.00 crore (with gross purchase of Rs415.10 crore and gross sales of Rs589.10 crore).