Markets likely to open lower on weak global cues

Benchmark share indices are likely to open lower on Monday tracking weakness in Asia and the sharp fall in US stocks on Friday. Further, investors would keenly await data on industrial production for January and consumer price index for February later this week.

At 8:35AM, the early indicator SGX Nifty was down 86 points at 8,904.

Meanwhile, foreign institutional investors were net buyers in equities to the tune of Rs 80 crore on Friday.

Asian markets were trading lower tracking the sharp fall in US stocks on Friday after strong US jobs data raised expectations that the US Federal Reserve would hike rates much earlier than expected. The Nikkei was down 0.6% while shares in China also witnessed profit taking with the benchmark Shanghai Composite was down 1.1% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.7%. Singapore's benchmark share index, the Straits Times was down 0.8%.

Major US stock indices ended over 1% lower on Friday as robust jobs data fuelled expectattions that the US Federal Reserve would start raising interest rate sooner than expected. In February, US employers added 295,000 jobs compared to a estimate of 240,000, the US Labor Department said on Friday. Further, unemployment rate dipped to a 6 1/2 year low of 5.5% in Febraury, lower than 5.7% in January.  The Dow Jones ended down 1.5% at 17,856.78, the broader S&P 500 ended down 1.4% at 2,071.26 and the tech-laden Nasdaq ended down 1.1% at 4,927.37.

 
Stocks in Focus

Power Grid Corp will be in focus as media reports suggest that the Union Minister of State for Power Piyush Goyal said the company is set to invest about Rs 30,000 crore for augmenting transmission capacity.

Gati will be in focus after its JV Gati Kintetsu Express Private Limited (Gati KWE) has chosen IBM Commerce to help online retailers meet the rising consumer demand for efficient delivery of products. Gati KWE is a joint venture company between Hyderabad-based Gati and Kintetsu World Express of Japan.

DLF will see some action amid reports that the real estate major is looking to monetise properties worth about Rs 15,000 crore to boost its cash flow and reduce debt.

Sun Pharmaceuticals could see some pressure after the pharma major's US-based unit is voluntarily recalling 5,322 bottles of Ketorolac Tromethamine ophthalmic solution in the US market for failing to meet specifications.

Jindal Steel & Power may gains after the company won bid for Tara Coal Block at Rs 126/tonne.

Hindalco may see some action after the company won bid for Dumri Coal Block at Rs 2,127/tonne.

Mindtree may see some pressure after the company in a release said that quarter-on-quarter dollar revenue growth on an organic basis is expected to report a small decline due  to continued depreciation of certain currencies against the dollar.