Results to rule stock market amid derivatives expiry this week

HDFC Bank, Cairn India, Maruti Suzuki India, ICICI Bank ACC, Ambuja Cements, and AXIS Bank are among the major companies that will announce financial results this week

Quarterly earnings of bluechips such as HDFC Bank, Maruti Suzuki India and ICICI Bank would dictate the trend on stock markets this week which may also see volatility amid expiry of derivatives on Wednesday, say analysts.

Stock markets are closed on Thursday due to general elections in Mumbai.

HDFC Bank, Cairn India, Maruti Suzuki India, ICICI Bank ACC, Ambuja Cements, and AXIS Bank are among the major companies that would announce financial results this week.

Also, market reaction to RIL's earnings, which were announced on Friday last week, may also impact the trend in near term, analysts said. Markets were closed on Friday for 'Good Friday'.

The ongoing Lok Sabha elections that began on April 7 continue to be a big trigger for stock markets.

"While this current market rally is largely on account of brightening prospects of the BJP-led NDA coming to power at the Centre, India's macro outlook is also improving, thus pointing to an extended stability for the INR," Tirthankar Patnaik, Director-institutional research, Religare Capital Markets Ltd, said.

"Election-led rally apart, quarterly earnings performance will also play a crucial role in deciding the market movement over the next few weeks," Patnaik said.

Rakesh Goyal, Senior Vice President of Bonanza Portfolio Ltd, said that market is showing optimism ahead of election results and going ahead, quarterly results and global cues shall dictate the trend.

"Buying in correction may continue, and above 6,800 level (Nifty), we can expect further rally to continue," he said.

Jignesh Chaudhary, Head of Research, Veracity Broking Services, said that technical indicators are suggesting "a bullish trend" in the coming days for the markets.

"The Nifty is expected to trade in the range of 6,700-6,800 and the Sensex between 22,600 and 23,800 levels," he said.

FII investment trend, global cues and movement of rupee against the dollar will continue to influence the markets.

"The economic calendar in the coming week will see some important data related to the US economy. These related to home sales and core durable goods order," Chaudhary said.

Key indices ended flat after a roller-coaster ride due to a host of domestic developments related to inflation, factory output and corporate earnings last week, which saw trading on just three days due to holidays.

FIIs, who were net sellers for the first two days, again turned on buyers and infused Rs 278.30 crore in the shortened week, as per SEBI data.

"Markets continue to be driven by expectations of a favourable outcome of elections," Dipen Shah of Kotak Securities said.