Pre-market: Flat to negative opening likely

Watch out for Monsanto, MCX, Financial Technologies, Reliance Power and IGL

Markets are likely to open on a flat to positive note on muted Asian cues. At 0820 hrs, the SGX Nifty was down 27 points at 6.323.

Overnight, U.S. stocks advanced on Thursday, with the Dow ending at a record high for the sixth straight day, although trading was light following the Christmas holiday.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.75%, to end unofficially at 16,480. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 0.47%, to finish unofficially at 1,842. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 0.28%, to close unofficially at 4,167.

The S&P 500 also ended at an all-time closing high.

Asian markets were struggling to match the performance of Wall Street on Friday even as Japanese economic data impressed and the dollar tested the 105 yen barrier for the first time in five years.

Tokyo's Nikkei started well enough but the early six-year peak attracted profit-takers and nudged it 0.4% lower.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan managed to add only 0.1%.

Some of the stocks to watch in today's trade are Monsanto, MCX, Financial Technologies, Reliance Power and IGL.