Markets may edge higher in early trade

Domestic benchmark indices ended the session near the flat line in a lacklustre trading. The BSE Sensex gained 28 points to finish at 31,596 and the Nifty inched up 5 points to close above 9,850 levels. Pharma stocks surged and stocks of Public sector banks moved higher after in-principle approval for PSBs to amalgamate through an Alternative Mechanism. 

European stock indices traded in a narrow range throughout Friday’s session and ended the day with marginal losses. The DAX of Germany dipped 0.11 per cent and the CAC 40 of France slid 0.17 per cent. The FTSE 100 of the U.K. shed 0.08 per cent.

U.S. stocks turned mixed over the course of the trading session on Friday. The Dow and the S&P 500 closed in positive territory, whereas, the tech-laden Nasdaq pulled back into red. The Dow Jones Industrial Average moved higher by 30 points to finish at 21,814. The S&P 500 advanced 4 points to 2,443, while the Nasdaq Composite Index shed 6 points to 6,266. 

Majority of Asian markets started the fresh week on a positive note. In early trade, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng has surged 181 points and China’s Shanghai Composite has gained 32 points. On the other hand, Japan’s Nikkei 225 has slipped 23 points. 

The outlook for the day is a positive start as majority of Asian markets are trading in positive territory. The SGX Nifty which was trading at 9,897 up by 21 points, indicating a positive start for the day.