Market may open higher

Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could rise 12 points at the opening bell.

Overseas, Asian shares were trading higher as sentiment improved gradually from a recent shakeout that stemmed from fears of creeping inflation and higher borrowing costs. Markets in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan remain closed for the holiday. US markets will be closed today, 19 February 2018 in observance of Presidents Day.

In US, the Dow and S&P 500 on Friday, 16 February 2018 logged their sixth straight advance, notching a slight gain at the close, with the benchmarks ending well off session highs as political news sparked late-session turbulence. The Nasdaq snapped a five-day rally. Special Counsel Robert Mueller announced the indictments of 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities, accusing them of interfering in US elections.

Back home,trading for the week ended on a subdued note on Friday, 16 February 2018 as key indices settled with modest losses. The Sensex fell 286.71 points or 0.84% to settle at 34,010.76, its lowest closing level since 9 February 2018.

The trading activity on that day showed that the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 1065.99 crore on Friday, 16 February 2018, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.

Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 1127.78 crore on Friday, 16 February 2018, as per provisional data.

Among corporate news,Reliance Industries (RIL) said that its wholly owned subsidiary Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings (RIIHL) proposes to acquire equity shares of The Indian Film Combine (IFC), which is setting up a drive-in theatre and hospitality precinct comprising of a hotel, a retail mall and a club, built on about 12 acres of land in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 16 February 2018.

RIIHL will be acquiring 65% of current paid-up equity share capital of IFC from the existing shareholders for Rs 1105 crore (20% from Mauritian arm of Xander Group, Inc. based in USA for Rs 340 crore and 45% from entities belonging to the promoter group of RIL for Rs 765 crore). The remaining 35% of IFC continues to be held by the Maker Group. The acquisition is expected to be completed by 31 May 2018.

Infosys announced that it has on 15 February 2018 signed an agreement for divestment of its entire investment from Onmobile Systems Inc. USA for a total consideration of $2.5 million. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 16 February 2018.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)