Flat-to-negative opening expected on ECB stance

Markets are likely to make a flat-to-negative opening on ECB comments. The European Central Bank (ECB) has cut interest rates on Thursday to boost the euro zone economy, surprising financial markets by dropping its main refinancing rate to zero from 0.05%.

The early indicator, SGX Nifty is trading flat at 7,487 mark. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) might revise its estimate for global economic growth in its spring meeting but India is better placed than other emerging market countries, said its financial counsellor and director, José Viñals, on Thursday.

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Further, the government will announce Index of Industrial Production data for January today.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 1063.11 crore yesterday, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.

Among overseas markets, the euro held hefty gains in Asia on Friday after the European Central Bank eased aggressively but suggested it was running out of room to cut interest rates, even if other stimulus options remained.

The muddled message sent European bond yields surging and snuffed out a nascent rally in risk sentiment, leaving Asian share markets at a loss on how to react.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was off a slight 0.08%, while Australia dipped 0.2%. Japan's Nikkei took a bigger blow from a rise in the yen and slipped 1.5%.    

CORPORATE NEWS

Real Estate stocks will be in focus as the Rajya Sabha passed the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2015.

Reliance Industries (RIL) declared an interim dividend of Rs 10.50 per fully paid-up equity share of Rs 10 each.

Five serving and former executives of IDBI Bank and a few executives of Kingfisher Airlines have been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a Rs 950-crore loan the bank sanctioned to the airline in 2009.

Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL) is in the process of rescheduling its debt with foreign lenders.

HDFC Bank has chosen five start-ups it will work with to strengthen their web, mobile and payment offerings.

BSNL is in discussions with Bharti Airtel for sharing in four circles -- Rajasthan, UP (West), Bihar and Assam.

The government cancelled award of Ratna & R-Series oil and gas field to Essar Oil and Amguri oilfield in Assam to Canada's Canaro Resources and revert them back to state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC).

Country's largest private sector lender ICICI Bank Thursday launched a credit-linked subsidy scheme for home loans under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

BHEL on Thursday said it has commissioned a 500 Mw unit at Anpara-D thermal power plant in Uttar Pradesh.

With BS Reporter & Reuters input