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Markets are likely to see a flat opening today with Nifty retesting the 6,300 levels once again. With almost no global cues to guide the markets, the upcoming earnings and macro data will be closely watched out for.
At 0830 hrs, the SGX Nifty was flat with a negative bias at 6,350.
Asian markets got the New Year off to a sluggish start as Chinese economic data disappointed ahead of a raft of reports on global manufacturing due out through the session.
China's factory activity expanded at the slowest pace in three months in December, weighed down by shrinking export orders, a private survey showed on Thursday, consistent with views the economy's growth rate has moderated into the end of the year.
The final HSBC/Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) slipped to 50.5 in December from 50.8 in November, unchanged from a preliminary reading.
Japan's Nikkei was closed on Thursday but ended 2013 with an annual gain of 57%. Many analysts look for a further advance this year as the Bank of Japan remains committed to its massive stimulus campaign.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ended last year essentially flat, which was where it was at on Thursday. Korean shares eased 0.3%, as did stocks in Shanghai.
