Markets head for a subdued start

The Indian indices are expected to open the first day of the week on a quiet note on account of mixed Asian cues.

Headlines for the day:

RIL, DE Shaw in JV for financial services

Telecom Min to serve demand notice on Bharti Group

L&T plans to sell stake in some less-than-equal JVs



Events for the day:

Major corporate action

Ex-date for 3rd interim dividend of Crompton Greaves
Ex-date for interim dividend of Sinclairs Hotels, Sree Rayalaseema Hi-Strength Hypo
For more events and news, log on to Sharekhan.com

Pre-market report

Indian indices

Bullishness seems to be returning into the markets as investors are seen aggressively piling up positions in key heavyweight stocks ahead of the result season as they speculated a lot of headwinds have already been factored in.

The Indian markets may resume the first day of the week on a quiet note as markets in the Asian region were trading mixed today, with Tokyo shares hit by renewed nuclear concerns. The Reserve Bank of India is likely to issue guidelines for fresh banking licence anytime this week, which may influence banking counter.

Profit booking may emerge after a 5% surge in the key indices last week.

Daily trend of FII/MF investment in equities

The FIIs have bought Indian stocks worth a net of Rs345.50 crore on March 25, 2011 as compared to the net buy of Rs393.40 crore on March 24, 2011. The domestic investors have bought Indian shares worth a net of Rs232.30 crore on March 23, 2011.

Global signals

The European markets edged up on Friday (March 25, 2011), and recorded their biggest weekly gain in six months, with investors increasingly confident Japan's nuclear crisis and Middle East unrest would not derail global growth.

The Wall Street advanced on Friday with Oracle's upbeat outlook lifting tech stocks , though weak trading volume hinted the rally lacks enthusiasm.

The Asian markets were trading mixed, with Japanese shares down weighed by fresh concerns about high levels of radiation hampering crucial work to stabilise a crippled nuclear power plant. SGX Nifty was trading 5.5 points higher.

Commodity cues

Crude oil prices dipped slightly in choppy, thin trade, as traders weighed concerns about Middle East unrest and Libya's conflict as well as demand for oil in quake-hit Japan and debt-laden Europe.