Muted opening expected; technology pack in focus

Markets are likely to see a flat opening mirroring mixed Asian cues. Meanwhile, stock specific action is likely to be witnessed as the earnings season continues. The early indicator SGX Nifty is down 0.2% at 7,974.00 levels.

Data pertaining to the US crude oil inventories by the American Petroleum Institute (API) amid wild swings in the oil prices will be keenly watched out by the investors.

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"Nifty has been making higher high - higher low from last three trading sessions and till it holds above 7,850 zones, the immediate trend and momentum may take it towards next hurdle of 7972-8000 levels. On the downside it has support near 7,850 and below that long liquidation may attract a profit booking decline towards next major support of 7,777 zones, which is 200-day exponential moving average," points out a morning note from Anand Rathi Research.

"We have seen a strong rally of around 1000 points from budget day’s low of 6,825 but till it doesn’t give any sign of trend reversal we would advise to keep the long position by keeping the trailing stop losses. Now it’s the time for Q4 result so stock specific action is likely to be in the market and traders are advise to follow the same," it adds.

GLOBAL CUES

On the global front, Asian shares are trading mixed on Wednesday amid a depreciating US dollar and volatility in the crude price movement.  Data pertaining to the US crude oil inventories by the American Petroleum Institute (API) will be closely monitored. China’s Shanghai Composite, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and Singapore’s Straits Times indices have lost between 0.2%-0.7%. However, Japan’s Nikkei has climbed 0.6% as the Yen retreats.

Overnight, US stocks closed mixed, amid a rise in oil prices. Fall in the technology pack and consumer discretionary stocks on account of mixed earnings reports hurt the sentiment. 

STOCKS IN FOCUS

Shares of TCS are expected to see an upward march after the IT firm surprised the Street by posting slightly higher than expected constant currency revenue growth in the March 2016 quarter.

Wirpo will be closely monitored as the technology firm is set to announce its Q4 results today.

Mindtree is likely to gain after it reported a 21.2 per cent growth in net profit at Rs 156 crore for the quarter ended March 31, against the year-ago period.

LIC Housing Finance will be on the buying radar after it posted an 18.5% rise in standalone net profit for the quarter ended March 31. The housing finance company posted net profit of Rs 448.01 crore in the fourth quarter in FY16, compared with Rs 378.18 crore for the corresponding quarter in the last financial year.

Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) will remain in limelight as it informed the stock exchanges that it has in-principle agreed to sell up to 10% of its stake in HDFC Standard Life through offer for sale. HDFC will announce the initial public offering ( IPO) of its insurance arm HDFC Standard Life today.

Suzlon Energy is likely to see an uptick after it acquired Gale Solarfarms Private Limited, Tornado Solarfarms Private Limited, Abha Solarfarms Private Limited, Aalok Solarfarms Private Limited and Shreyas Solarfarms Private Limited.

Leading ratings agency Crisil on Tuesday reported a rise of 40% in its consolidated net profit for the first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2016.