Pre-Market: Shares seen opening soft on F&O expiry

Markets are likely to open on a cautious note tracking mixed global cues. The Futures and Options expiry for April contract will also keep shares volatile intra-day.

Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.29 per cent at 14,676, while the Nasdaq Composite Index ended flat at 3,269.

European shares, on the other hand, rose for a fourth straight session, boosted by corporate results. The FTSEurofirst 300 of top regional shares closed up 0.7 percent at 1,191.

In Asia, the Nikkei and Kospi were trading flat at 13,834 and 1,937, respectively on Thursday.

Back home, the Nifty is likely to seek support around 5,815 - 5,805 levels, while it can face resistance around 5,855 - 5,870 levels, technical analysts suggest.

Among individual stocks, Jet Airways and other aviation stocks will be in focus after Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways picked up a 24 per cent stake in the country’s second-largest domestic airline for Rs 2,054 crore.

Axis Bank will react to the news of 22 per cent rise in its net profit for the quarter ended March, 2013.

The Reserve Bank has allowed electrical goods maker Havells India to enhance the limit for purchase of its equity shares and convertible debentures by FIIs up to 40% of its paid up capital.

Mumbai-based broking firm Motilal Oswal proposes to buy back its shares. The proposal will be put before the board of directors on April 27.

Also keep a tab on Biocon, Hindustan Zinc, Idea Cellular and IDBI Bank as these companies will announce their respective March quarter results today.