Markets likely to open marginally lower

Benchmark share indices are likely to open flat with a negative bias on Friday as profit taking would emerge at higher levels after gains in the previous sessions.

At 8:20AM Indian Standard Time the SGX Nifty was down 26 points or 0.4 per cent at 5,944.

Key US share indices ended lower on Thursday after the US federal government continued to remain shutdown for the third straight as the differences between the Democrats and Republicans continued over the healthcare funding bill.

The Dow Jones industrial average ended down 137 points, or 0.9%, to end at 14,996. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index closed 15 points, or 0.9%, at 1,679. The Nasdaq Composite Index closed 41 points lower or 1.1%, at 3,774.

Shares in Europe ended mixed on Thursday on rising worries as law makers in the US failed to reach a consensus over the healthcare bill. The CAC-40 and DAx down 0.4-0.7% each while the FTSE-100 ended up 0.2% at 6,449.


STOCKS TO WATCH

Wipro may be in action on reports of that the company has announced a major management rejig.

Jet Airways may extend gains after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday cleared Etihad Airways’ Rs 2,060-crore investment in Jet Airways.

Alstom India will be in focus after it said that it has won Euro 100 million (Rs 842 crore ) order from Hyderabad-based GVK Power & Infra.

IOC will also see some action after the Department of Disinvestment has put off overseas roadshows to promote the sale of a 10% government stake in Indian Oil Corp (IOC) following stiff opposition from the Petroleum Ministry, which cited poor market conditions.