Markets may start lower; Inflation eyed

On the first day of the week, the Indian markets may open on a negative note on the back of unsupportive global cues.

Headlines for the day:

Air India invites merchant bankers to raise $1 bn.

DGH wants Oil Min to decide on RIL-BP gas investments.

Sahara, ICICI, Bhushan Steel in fray to buy Parsvnath land.

TCI to sue Coal India within a week.

OBC cuts interest rates by up to 0.5%.



Indian Indices:

The Indian markets may begin the week on a lower note on account of negative global cues. SGX Nifty trading is trading 34 points lower.

All eyes will be on the inflation for the month of March today. Other results scheduled to release today — Castrol India and CRISIL; stocks will remain in focus. Volatility may remain high on the back of monthly inflation and earnings announcement.

On Friday (April 13, 2012), the Sensex closed at 17094, down by 238 points and the Nifty ended at 5207, down by 69 points.

Global Indices:

Asian stock markets slipped on Monday (April 16, 2012), on growing concerns over rising borrowing costs in Spain, sending exporters and financial stocks down across the region.

European shares fell on Friday (April 13, 2012), after two days of gains as concerns over euro zone sovereign debt returned with a vengeance, taking a toll on banks, which led the market lower.

US stocks closed out its worst week this year on Friday after disappointing Chinese growth data stoked worries about the strength of the global economy and a rise in Spain's borrowing costs revived fears about the debt-plagued euro zone.

Daily trend of FII/MF investment in equities:

The FIIs have been the net buyers Indian stocks to the tune of Rs184 crore on April 12, 2012.The domestic investors bought

Indian shares worth a net of Rs262 crore on April 12, 2012. The data is as per the SEBI website.

Commodity Cues:

Crude Oil prices slipped on Friday after data showed economic growth slowed more than expected in China, the world's second-largest crude consumer.