Pre-market: Markets likely to recover losses

The markets could recover some of their losses made earlier this week in trade today. Industrial production data for February 2012 due later in the day today will also impact sentiment.

An encouraging start to earnings season helped US stocks rebound on Wednesday. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.7 per cent to 12,805. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index moved up 0.8 per cent to 1,369 levels.

Asian shares eased on Thursday while the euro firmed, reflecting investor caution. MSCI's broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan inched down 0.1 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei average opened up 0.3 per cent.

Back home, the Nifty is likely to face resistance around 5,255-5,275, while it can seek support around 5,200-5,180, technical analysts suggest. At 720 am Indian Standard Time, the SGX Nifty was trading at 5,247 levels – down 0.2 per cent.

Among individual stocks, pipe manufacturer PSL could be in focus on reports that it has bagged an order worth 570 crore rupees from Indian Oil Corporation.

Keep a tab on aviation stocks, as the Cabinet committee on economic affairs is likely to clear a proposal to allow foreign carriers to invest in their Indian counterparts today.

Piramal Healthcare has informed that it has received European regulatory nod to sell BST-CarGel, a bio-orthopaedic product.

Japan's MS&AD is close to buying a 26 per cent stake in a joint venture between New York Life and Max India for about $540 million, reports suggest.

GMR Infrastructure has finalised plans to raise debt of 5400 crore rupees to finance its recently won highway project between Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Also watch out for NBCC and MT Educare that list at the bourses today.