Markets likely to open firm on strong global cues

Markets are likely to open on a positive note following strong cues from the global markets.  At 8:15 AM, the early indicator SGX Nifty is trading nearly 1% up.

In the week to October 1, the 30-share BSE Sensex ended up 357 points, or 1.4 per cent, to end at 26,221 and the 50-share Nifty ended up 82 points, or 1%, to close at 7,951. In the broader markets, the BSE MidCap Index ended 2.1 per cent higher, while the SmallCap Index ended up 0.9 per cent.

Overnight, the US markets rallied higher by 1% on Friday despite of the weaker than expected US jobs data.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were the net buyers on Thursday, to the tune of Rs 48.60 crore as per provisional stock exchange data.

GLOBAL MARKETS

Following leads from the overnight rally on Wall Street, the Asian equities are trading strong on Monday with Japan’s Nikkei registering a 1.2% gains. HangSeng and Kospi are trading with 1.8% and 1%  gains respectively.

Crude oil prices have recovered slightly after an initial slip on reports that Russia is ready to talk to oil suppliers.

On Friday, the European equities also finished higher with major indices ending with nearly 1% gains.

STOCKS IN FOCUS

NTPC: State-run NTPC will consider selling electricity to Bangladesh from its upcoming 750 MW plant at Kokrajhar in Assam once the neighbouring country finalises plans to buy power from Palatana project in Tripura.

NMDC: State-run miner NMDC has slashed prices of iron ore fines by more than 52 per cent to Rs 1,460 per tonne for the current month as compared to Rs 3,060 a tonne in January this year as it faces subdued ore demand

Infosys; HDFC: IT major Infosys has surpassed private sector lender HDFC Bank, becoming the third most valued Indian firm in terms of market valuation, with TCS leading the top 10 companies chart, followed by RIL.

Indiabulls Housing Finance Company: The company is planning to raise up to $1 billion by the way of equity or convertiblesecurities.

Adani Ports; L&T: Both the companies have signed a pact to overseeoperations of Kattupalli port in Tamil nadu

Biocon: The pharma company has acquired business assets of Acacia Life Sciences Private Limited at Parawada.

TVS Motor: TVS Motor has reported a marginal drop in sales during the month of September at 232,775 units as against 236,751 units recorded in the month of September 2014.