Markets Trade on a Flat Note

The Global Markets trade in a positive territory this morning. U.S. stocks rose, with the Standard & Poors 500 Index approaching its bullmarket high, as higher-than-estimated earnings at companies from Apple Inc. to Morgan Stanley bolstered optimism in the economy. European stocks climbed this week, recovering from a selloff, as earnings from Intel Corp. and Apple Inc. to PSA Peugeot Citroen and LOreal SA spurred investor optimism in the global economic recovery. Most Asian stocks rose, led by banks after Credit Suisse Group AG raised its share-price estimate for Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. Technology shares fell after Acer Inc.s profit missed analyst estimates. In commodities, Crude Oil rose to the highest in two weeks in New York as renewed violence in the Middle East and Africa threatens to prolong supply disruptions. Spot gold rose to a record of $1,513.70 an ounce on Monday, extending the record-breaking rally to the seventh consecutive session, as the dollar languished near its three-year low. U.S. gold futures also hit a record high, at $1,514.50 an ounce. Copper in Shanghai opens little changed at 71,500 Yuan a ton. Markets posted marginal gains after opening flat led by frontline stocks - State Bank of India, Infosys and Larsen & Tourbo. Heavyweight Reliance Industries continued to weigh, down 2% after fourth quarter results reported after market hours on Thursday were below expectations. The Nifty is down by 0.30 points, at 5,884 and Sensex advanced 20 points, at 19,621. From the broader markets space, midcap and small cap indices were down 0.6% and 0.7% each. Market breadth was positive, 1320 stocks advanced for 736 declining stocks.