Pre-market: Choppy session seen

The markets could trade choppy with a negative bias ahead of the F&O expiry on the penultimate trading day for the current financial year today. Global cues will also keep gains under check.

“Markets are expected to remain volatile. The Nifty faces resistance at 5,231 and 5,267 levels, while there is support at 5,164 and 5,133 levels,” said Alex Mathews, Head Technical and Derivatives Research at Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services.

US markets ended weak with the Dow Jones industrial average shedding 0.5 per cent to 13,126. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index also lost 0.5 per cent to end at 1,405.

Asian shares eased for a second day in a row on Thursday, as investors limited their risk exposure. MSCI's broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.1 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei share average opened down 0.5 per cent.

At 825 am Indian Standard Time, the SGX Nifty was trading at 5,148 – down 54 points, or 1 per cent.

Among individual stocks, Coal India will be in focus as its board will meet again today to approve the new draft fuel supply agreement, as Wednesday's discussions on the issue remained inconclusive.

EIH Associated Hotels’ board has approved raising of up to 110 crore rupees through a rights issue.

Readymade Steel plans to acquire a majority stake in Singapore-based building and construction firm, KH Foges Pte Ltd.

Panacea Biotec plans to scale up production of anti-cancer products with the commissioning of its new facility in Himachal Pradesh.

UG Group shares could also be in limelight today on reports that Heineken may raise its stake from the current 37.5 per cent.