Markets Trade on a Positive Note

The Global Markets trade in a mixed territory this morning. Most U.S. stocks fell, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index dropping from near its highest valuation since June, as earnings reports from companies including Broadcom Corp. and Aflac Inc. disappointed investors and anti-government protests in Egypt worsened. Most European stocks fell as companies from Electrolux AB to Scania AB announced results that disappointed investors. Most Japanese and Australian shares fell as violence flared when demonstrators clashed in anti- government protests in Egypt, and as earnings disappointed some investors. In commodities, Oil advanced for a second day in New York as protests in Egypt turned violent, prompting concern that crude supplies may be disrupted and unrest may spread to other parts of the Middle East. Gold fluctuated as expectations of an economic recovery in the U.S. were offset by concerns that rising inflation and escalating anti-government protests in Egypt would boost the appeal for the metal. Copper advanced to records in London and New York as manufacturing improved from China to the U.S., boosting the demand outlook for the metal used in construction and electrical applications. The Sensex has opened in the green with the index gaining 183 points at 18,273 and the Nifty is trading at 5,483 gaining 51 points. In the broader markets, the small caps are flat at 8,397. Among the sectoral indices, IT and Metal up 0.2% and 0.1% respectively are the only sectors that started in the positive. Auto, Realty, FMCG and Capital Goods down 0.2% and 0.6% are the laggards in the opening trades.