Pre-market: Markets likely to remain range-bound

Maruti Suzuki, Biocon and India Cements to be in focus

The markets are likely to be range-bound during this truncated week amid sluggish foreign fund inflows, mixed corporate results and continued weak investor sentiment.

Key benchmark indices edged lower last week after global rating agency Standard & Poor's cut India's outlook citing slow progress on its fiscal situation, as well as deteriorating economic indicators. The Sensex and the Nifty closed the week, which had a special trading session on Saturday, lower by 1 – 1.5%.

Asian shares inched higher on Monday as weaker-than-expected US growth data left open the possibility for more monetary stimulus from the Federal Reserve, but trading will likely be subdued with Japanese and Chinese markets closed. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.4%.

Back home, the Nifty is likely to seek support around 5,165-5,145, while face resistance around 5,215-5,235 levels, technical analysts suggest. At 710 a-m Indian Standard Time, the SGX Nifty was trading at 5,223 levels – up 0.3%.

Among individual stocks, Maruti Suzuki India will react to the 3% drop in its March 2012 net profit, reported on Saturday, to 639.8 crore rupees.

Biocon has reported nearly 3% drop in its fourth-quarter consolidated net profit at around 98 crore rupees.

India Cements is planning to invest around 750 crore rupees in one of its factories in Tamil Nadu.

Also keep a tab on Bank of India, Titan Industries, Punj Lloyd, Shoppers Stop and Exide Industries as they will announce their respective March quarter results today.