 "10 things you should know before the opening bell")
Global cues:
Asian markets steadied on Friday as Japanese shares recouped early losses, though investors were pensive ahead of jobs data that could make or break the case for an imminent scaling back in US stimulus. Shares across the region seemed to take some heart and MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS turned flat after an early dip.
US stocks fell on Thursday, with the Dow and S&P 500 dropping for a fifth straight session after a round of mixed economic data left traders guessing as to when the Federal Reserve would begin to slow its stimulus program. The Dow and the S&P 500 are in their worst stretch since September. However, the moves have been slight, with the S&P 500 down about 1.2 percent over the period.
[caption id=“attachment_1260303” align=“alignright” width=“380”]  Representational Image. Reuters[/caption]
The euro traded at five-week highs against the dollar early in Asia on Friday, having powered higher overnight after the European Central Bank gave no fresh indication that it would ease policy anytime soon.
Gold steadied on Friday after choppy trading in the previous session, though was still headed
for a weekly decline as improving U.S. economic data raised fears of an early end to monetary stimulus.
Business/Stock news:
Vodafone Group Plc plans to invest $3 billion in Indian networks in the next two years, Chief Executive Officer Vittorio Colao said on Wednesday in the Indian capital.
Investor advisory firm SES has once again raised the issue of control in the Jet-Etihad deal and is once again clamouring for an open offer for Jet Airways by Etihad. This comes after the Competition Commission noted in its observation that the deal gives Etihad joint control of Jet’s assets and operations.
Reflecting macroeconomic challenges over the next 12 months, Moody’s expects challenges for Indian non-financial corporates to continue in 2014. “India’s GDP growth to remain weak at 5.5 percent in the fiscal year ending March 2015, as elections in mid-2014 will delay reforms needed to revive the economy,” Moody’s Investors Service said in a report.
Tata Motors shares will see some action following an Economic Times report that Jaguar Land Rover unit has entered into an agreement with Brazil to build a manufacturing plant with an investment of $750 million and annual production of 24,000 vehicles.
Economy news:
Foreign direct investment into emerging markets should decline next year because of persistent concerns about the global economy, the World Bank’s political risk insurance arm said on Thursday.For the first time in five years, companies listed macroeconomic instability as their biggest constraint for investing in emerging markets over the next three years, according to the report from the World Bank’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.
The Reserve Bank of India will soon introduce cash-settled interest rate futures on 10-year government bonds and has also permitted exchanges to launch these derivatives in other smaller tenor securities in the future, it said on Thursday.
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