Flat opening for markets likely

Key benchmark indices on Tuesday settled with minor losses in a lacklustre trading session. Both the barometer indices, BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty, closed in the red. Sensex fell about 12 points to settle at 31,210, while the Nifty 50 declined about 2 points to end at 9,613.30. After starting the session with moderate gains, key indices hovered near the flat line with a positive bias. However, benchmark indices slipped into the negative terrain in the late trade.  

European stocks fell marginally on Tuesday amid geopolitical tensions. Trading volumes on Tuesday were lighter than usual as the US markets remained closed for the Independence Day holiday. The CAC 40 closed lower by 0.40 per cent, while Germany DAX slipped 0.31 per cent and London’s FTSE 100 shed 0.27 per cent.

American stock exchanges were closed on Tuesday on account of Independence Day holiday.
 
Asian bourses were trading mixed in early session on Wednesday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 has slipped 0.52 per cent; Hong Kong index Hang Seng has gained 0.24 per cent, while China’s Shanghai Composite has shed 0.22 per cent.
 
At 8:12 am, SGX Nifty index futures, which were trading at 9,637, up by 12 points, signalled a flat opening for the local bourses.