Markets to open higher on firm global cues

Indian stocks are likely to open higher on Friday tracking sharp overnight gains on Wall Street and firm gains in their Asian peers.

At 8:30AM, the early indicator SGX Nifty was up 64 points at 8,870.

Meanwhile, Foreign institutional investors were net buyers in equities to the tune of Rs 733 crore, as per provisional stock exchange data.

Further, in economic data released late Thursday, industrial growth in January slowed to 2.6% in January, against 3.2 per cent in December 2014. India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) -based inflation rose to 5.37 per cent in February, from 5.19 per cent the previous month, mainly because of high food prices.

Asian stocks firmed up on Friday tracking sharp overnight gains on Wall Street. Japanese shares firmed up ahead of settlement of Nikkei futures and options contracts expiring in March. Meanwhile, the weakening yen against the US dollar also helped investor sentiment. The benchmark Nikkei was up 1.5%. Further, China's Shanghai Composite was up 0.7% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.4% and Singapore's Straits Times gained 0.2%.

Major US benchmark share indices snapped two-day losing streak to end over 1% higher on Thursday after weak February retail sales capped further gains in the dollar and hopes that hike in interest rates would be delayed.According to the data released by the US Commerce Department, retail sales in February declined 0.6%. This is the third consecutive month of decline in retail sales.

Stocks in Focus

Financial firms with insurance subsidiaries such as HDFC, ICICI Bank, Max India, Reliance Capital and SBI will be in focus after the Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the Insurance Bill which permits increase in foreign investment limit to 49% in insurance.

DLF will be in action ahead of the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) ruling later today with regards to it's plea against a SEBI ruling that banned the realty major and its six top executives, including Chairman K P Singh, from capital markets for three years.

NTPC may extend gain after the company announced March 23, 2015 as the record date for issue of secured bonus debentures of a face value of Rs 12.50 each for every one equity share of Rs 10.

FMCG shares could be under pressure after India's Consumer Price Index increased to 5.37% in February compared with 5.19% in January because of higher food prices.

Capital Goods shares may remain subdued after industrial growth slowed to 2.6% in January compared with 3.2% rise in December 2014.