Markets may open flat to positive driven by some very high and some moderately high mixed global cues; GDP data lo leave its mark

Indian benchmark indices got off to a cautious start, and soon after opening, the indices slipped lower in the late morning session. Thereafter, indices consolidated for the most part of the session, but witnessed sharp selling in the final hour of trade. Eventually, the NSE’s 50-share broadly followed index, Nifty, took a cut of around half a per cent to settle below the crucial 8,900 support level; while Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensitive index, Sensex, slipped by around hundred points and closed above the psychological 28,800 mark.

The European markets ended the first session of the new trading week with mixed results. Markets got off to a positive start, but pared their early gains after the planned merger between the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Bourse hit a roadblock. The DAX of Germany climbed 0.16 per cent and the CAC 40 of France closed flat. The FTSE 100 of the U.K. rose 0.13 per cent.  

The Dow Jones Industrial Average extended its winning streak on Monday, matching its 1987 milestone, for closing at a record high for the 12th session in a row. The Dow added 16 points to end at 20,838 levels. While the S&P 500 rose 2 points to close at a record of 2,369 levels. The Nasdaq Composite index gained 16 points to finish at 5,861.

Most of the Asian markets are trading in positive territory. Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading up by 131 points, followed by Shanghai Composite trading up by 4 points. On the other hand, Hang Seng shed 40 points.

At 8:14 am, SGX Nifty index was trading flat at 8,920.50, indicating a flat start for Indian equities. The government will release December quarter GDP data later in the day.