Pre-market: Choppy session ahead of F&O expiry

Watch out for RIL, Bajaj Auto, Trent, Titan Industries and Gitanjali Gems

Markets are likely to see a choppy session today ahead of the F&O expiry. At 0820 hrs, the SGX Nifty was flat with a negative bias at 6,289.

In global markets, U.S. stocks scored modest gains on Tuesday as investors exercised restraint from making big bets in a short session ahead of the Christmas holiday, with the Dow and S&P 500 once again ending at record highs. Markets closed early and will remain shut until Thursday for the holiday.

Both the Dow and S&P 500 continued to ascend to all-time highs, with the Dow reaching a record high for the fifth consecutive session, while the S&P 500's record streak stood at three days in a row.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.39%, to finish at 16,358, a record closing high. The S&P 500 gained 0.29%, to end at 1,833, a record closing high. The Nasdaq Composite added 0.16%, to close at 4,155.

in Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei share average climbed 0.9 percent to a more than six-year high on Thursday, with buying mostly by retail investors as tax-free investment accounts aimed at driving Japanese savings into stocks kicked off.

The Nikkei was up 145.99 points or 1% at 16,155.98 in mid-morning trade, after closing above 16,000 for the first time since December 2007 on Wednesday.

Shanghai Composite was down 0.7% at 2,092.

Meanwhile, Hang Seng and Jakarta Composite were closed.

Reliance Industries, Baja Auto, Trent, Titan Industries and Gitanjali Gems are some of the stocks to watch out for.