The Indian markets have opened in the red with the Sensex opening down 43 points at 20,299 and the Nifty shedding 21 points at 6,114. In the broader markets , the smallcap index started at 10,669, up 0.3% and the midcap index gained 0.1% at 8,409. The benchmark index is underperforming at 0.2% in the negative.
On the international front, the US stocks drifted in the lightest trading volume of the year on Monday as few dared to place bets ahead of key companies' results later this week. The Dow Jones edged up 4 points, or 0.03 % to 11,010. The Nasdaq was flat at 2,402.33.
On the BSE sectoral charts, Auto index, up 0.3% leads the pack followed by Consumer Durables, Bankex and Health Care. All the other indices are in the negative.
The gainers on the Sensex in the opening trades are Sterlite up 1%, ICICI Bank, Tata Motors,Wipro, TCS gaining 0.4% -0.6%
The losers are HDFC down nearly 2%, Hindalco, HDFC Bank, L&T and DLF shedding nearly 1%
The market breadth is positive. 889 stocks has advanced while 749 have declined.