Markets expect a negative opening

The Indian markets may open in red as the Asian stocks appear to be unsupportive. Caution prevails ahead of the outcome of the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting.

Headlines for the day

L&T set to partner Hindustan Shipyard

BoI seeks Rs4,000 crore from Centre

Maruti Suzuki workers refuse to hold talks with management

Green ministry softens stand on coal mining



Events for the day

RDB Rasayans IPO opens today

Prakash Constrowell IPO closes today

Indian indices

There is some expectation that there will be some further easing language with the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting when it wraps up today. The FOMC is expected to try to push long-term interest rates lower than they already are by tilting the US central bank's portfolio toward longer-duration bonds, which could push some investors into riskier assets

Further, the IMF has confirmed that the global economy is slowing, with the developed world in a state of turmoil. The IMF has also lowered growth forecast for emerging nations like China and India.

Going into today’s trade, the opening is expected to be in the negative terrain tracking unsupportive Asian cues. The markets may dependent on the global cues for direction.

Prakash Constrowell IPO closes today and the price band is fixed at Rs130-138 per equity share of face value Rs10 each. RDB Rasayans IPO opens today and the price band is fixed at Rs72-79 per equity share of face value Rs10 each.

Global signals

The US stocks ended little changed on Tuesday (September 20, 2011) as investors waited to see if the US Federal Reserve would offer more economic stimulus and if Greece made progress in talks to avoid a default.

The European stocks climbed on Tuesday as Greece described its debt talks with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund as “productive” and investors speculated the Federal Reserve will provide more stimulus.

The Asian stocks were trading mixed on Wednesday (September 21, 2011) ahead of the outcome of the US Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting. SGX Nifty was trading 31 points down.

Daily trend of FII/MF investment in equities

The FIIs have sold Indian stocks to the tune of Rs4 crore on September 20, 2011. The domestic investors have bought Indian shares worth a net of Rs149.80 crore on September 16, 2011. The data is as per the SEBI website.

Commodity cues

The US crude oil rose on Tuesday after steep losses in the previous session, as financial markets got a lift from hopes that the US Federal Reserve's policy panel could act to boost the economy.