Pre-market: Markets to open higher on firm Asian cues

Markets are expected to open on a cautious note albeit with a positive bias on Monday tracking firm Asian cues

Markets are expected to open on a cautious note albeit with a positive bias on Monday. The WPI inflation data scheduled after market hours today will be crucial trigger for the markets.

According to the technical experts, the Sensex is likely to trade with a positive bias as long as the index sustains above 19,925, below which the index can slip to 19,700. On the upside, the index can surge to 20,100 or further higher to 20,260.

At 8:30AM IST, SGX Nifty was up 3 points at 6,021.

Meanwhile Asian shares were trading marginally higher as investors kept to the sidelines ahead of fresh economic data from China. Japanese financial markets are closed for a public holiday

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 3.38 points, or 0.02 percent, to end at 15,464. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 5.17 points, or 0.32 percent, to 1,680. The Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 21.78 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at 3,600.

Following stocks are expected to move on the exchanges today:

A top advisory body of the environment ministry has recommended grant of forest clearance to Sesa Goa’s iron ore mine in Karnataka.

The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) has refused to approve Reliance Industries’ $3.5-billion plan for developing gas discoveries in block NEC-25, off the Odisha coast, as the company had not done the prescribed tests to confirm the finds.

Tech Mahindra, India's fifth-largest IT services company, is likely to acquire the IT services business of Chennai-based Polaris Financial Technology. According to multiple sources in the know, the company is in an advanced stage of discussions with Polaris after L&T Infotech, another serious suitor, opted out of the fray.