Sensex Likely to Open Flat; Infosys, Cairn India to be in Focus

The Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty are likely to open on a flat note in trades today tracking subdued trading in other Asian markets.

Among the Asian peers, Japan's Nikkei was down 0.8 per cent and Shanghai Composite was down 0.4 per cent. While, Hang Seng was trading marginally higher, up 0.3 per cent.

Overnight, The Nasdaq Composite, the US market index most closely associated with technology stocks, closed at an all-time high on Thursday.

Its new record close of 5,056.06 capped a slow, unsteady climb since it touched a 2002 low of 1,114.11, that spanned an economic recession, the rise of biotech and social media and the explosive growth of mobile phones that has helped make Apple Inc the most valuable company in the United States.

Meanwhile, the SGX Nifty was also indicating a flat start for the Indian markets. At 8:29 a.m., the SGX Nifty was quoting 0.2 per cent higher.

Back home, these stocks will be in focus today:

Infosys: Infosys will be announcing its fourth quarter numbers later in the day. Analysts polled by NDTV expect Infosys to report net profit of Rs 3,174 crore compared to Rs 3,250 crore in the previous quarter. Sales are expected at Rs 13,898 crore.

Cairn India: Cairn India is likely to fall in trade today as the company posted disappointing set of fourth quarter numbers post the market hours yesterday. The company reported loss of Rs 240.8 crore versus net profit of Rs 3,035.4 crore.

Bharti Airtel: Bharti Airtel will be in limelight today as the company has said that it may soon launch 4G services in Delhi.

HCL Technologies: HCL Tech will go ex-dividend at Rs 4 per share.

CRISIL: CRISIL board plans to buy-back equity shares on April 28.