Pre-market: Markets likely to open weak

The markets are likely to witness a weak session today tracking global cues. Wall Street's recent sell-off accelerated on Tuesday with the benchmark S&P posting its worst day in four months. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 1.6 per cent to 12,716 and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 1.7 per cent to 1,359.

Asian shares fell for third straight day on Wednesday as uncertainty over global growth prospects, and resurfacing worries about debt restructuring in the euro zone. Japan's Nikkei average opened down 1.5 per cent, and MSCI's broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.2 per cent.

Back home, the Nifty is likely to find support around 5,225 – 5,215, while resistance is expected around 5,260 – 5,270 levels, analysts suggest. At 710 a-m Indian Standard Time, the SGX Nifty was trading at 5,212 levels – down 42 points.

Among individual stocks, Coal India could come under pressure today on a C-A-G report that the company overstated its manpower productivity for five years between April 2006 and March 2011.

Sobha Developers has posted a 50 per cent increase in its total sales for F-Y-12 at 1,700 crore rupees.

Platinum Investment Management has sold 0.47 per cent stake in Madras Cements in the open market around 17 crore rupees.

Airline stocks could also come back into the limelight on reports that the government will take a decision on foreign direct investment in the sector later this week.