 "10 thing you must know before the opening bell")
US equities rose overnight on expectations the Federal Reserve will not rush to end its stimulus programme.
Asian shares extended gains on Thursday in tandem, but investor caution over Chinese markets capped the upside.
The dollar eased, with its index against a basket of major currencies down 0.1 percent after reaching a near one-month high of 83.025 on Wednesday. The dollar was also down 0.1 percent against the yen at 97.68 and steady against the euro at $1.3011.
Gold edged higher on Thursday after a 12 percent slide since the beginning of last week, as soft data on US economic growth eased fears of a quick end to the Federal Reserve’s monetary stimulus. Spot gold rose 0.7 percent to $1,233.36 an ounce by 05:42 a.m, after a 4 percent fall on Wednesday that took the metal to $1,221.80, its lowest since August 2010. US gold rose about $4 to $1,233.40, also near 3-year lows.
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Business/ Stock news:
Financial service providerReligareEnterprises, after itsaid Customers Bancorp Inc ofUSAhas agreed to pick up 6% stake in the Delhi based banking aspirant for $51 million (about Rs 300 crore).
ITC, after the_PTI_ reported that the Cabinet Committee on Investments (CCI) is expected to take a decision on the diversified its pulp and paper project in Andhra Pradesh.
ONGC, RIL and Oil India, as Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs is likely to take a decision on gas pricing today.
Bharti Airtelhas approached theTelecom Ministry to discuss the issue of Rs 650 crore penaltywhich the Department of Telecom is likely to impose on thecompany for allegedly violating roaming norms, sources said.
Economy/policy news:
The government will discuss with retailers, including Walmart, Tesco and Carrefour today, issues faced by them in setting up of stores in the country’smulti-brandretail sector.“We will discuss issues like what are the impediments global retailers are facing in India. Although we have issued several clarifications, if some more things need to clarified we will do that. We can also approach the Cabinet for that,” a senior official in theDIPPsaid.
Intensifying the drive against firms sitting idle on allotted coal blocks, an inter- ministerial group has recommended issuing show cause notices to companies including JSPL, HZL and Ultratech for delaying production from around 40 mines given for captive use.