Markets likely to open weak; SGX Nifty dn 26 pts

Markets are likely to see a soft opening on account of weak Asia cues. At Indian time, 8:20am, the SGX Nifty was trading negative, down 26 points at 6,160.

Asian shares are trading mixed on Friday, though investors were reassessing the Federal Reserve's policy outlook following its decision this week to start tapering stimulus, with a more circumspect session on Wall Street overnight.

U.S. government bond prices fell overnight on emerging doubts about the Fed's commitment to rock-bottom interest rates.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.2 percent in early trade. It erased early gains to end a touch softer in the previous session following the Fed's taper decision.

Tokyo's Nikkei benchmark shed 0.5 percent, ahead of the outcome of a two-day Bank of Japan policy meeting. The index rallied 1.7 percent to its highest closing level in six years on Thursday as the yen slid.

US stocks finished mostly flat on Thursday as investors paused after a rally in the previous session, though the Dow closed at its second record high in a row.

The Nasdaq declined slightly on weakness in tech shares, though its loss was limited by a rally in Oracle Corp shares a day after the company's results.

STOCKS TO WATCH

The Cabinet decided to allow Reliance Industries to almost double the price of natural gas from April provided the firm gave a bank guarantee to cover its liability if gas-hoarding charges are proved.

IDFC, which has applied to RBI for a bank licence, said it is not eligible to obtain one as foreign shareholding in the institution exceeds the permissible limit of 50% and is working to meet the norms.