From global cues to Q4 results, 10 things to know before the opening bell on Dalal Street today

Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty50 may start Wednesday’s session on a weak note amid largely negative moves across global markets, a day after losing about half a per cent amid mixed cues the previous day. Globally, investors remain concerned about mixed economic data, weak corporate earnings and debt ceiling negotiations in the US.  

Stay tuned on Zeebiz.com to find out what could impact your trade today. We have collated a list of the top 10 things to know that could impact the market, companies or the economy:

SGX Nifty futures

Singapore Exchange (SGX) Nifty futures — an early indicator of the Nifty 50 index — were down 23.5 points or 0.13 per cent at 18,306 at the last count ahead of the opening bell on Dalal Street, suggesting a positive start ahead in the Indian share market.

Wall Street

Overnight on Wall Street, the three main US indices closed lower on Tuesday after a disappointing forecast from Home Depot and U.S. retail sales data for April pointed to softer consumer spending, while uncertainty about interest rates and debt limit negotiations weighed on sentiment.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 336.46 points, or 1.01 per cent, to 33,012.14, the S&P 500 lost 26.38 points, or 0.64 per cent, to 4,109.9 and the Nasdaq Composite dipped 22.16 points, or 0.18 per cent, to 12,343.05.

Asian markets

Equities in most other Asian markets were mixed as Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s KOSPI were up around 0.5 per cent each, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng  and China’s Shanghai Composite were in the red by around 0.6 per cent in the early morning trade on Wednesday.

Rupee vs dollar

The rupee appreciated by 6 paise to close at 82.25 against the US dollar on Tuesday, as the American currency retreated from its elevated levels. Forex traders said significant foreign fund inflows and easing crude oil prices also supported the local unit.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened at 82.22 against the US currency and moved between a high of 82.16 and a low of 82.29 in the day trade.

Dollar index

The dollar edged higher on Tuesday in choppy trading, with no clear direction, as investors kept an eye on debt ceiling talks to avert a possible default that could reverberate across asset markets and damage confidence in the world's largest economy.

The dollar index, a measure of the greenback's value against six major currencies, was up 0.2 per cent on the day at 102.61.

Crude oil

Crude oil prices fell for a second day on Wednesday after a surprise rise in US crude inventories stoked demand concerns on the heels of weaker-than-expected economic data from the United States and China, the world's two biggest oil consumers.

Brent crude futures was 29 cents lower, or down by 0.4 per cent, to $74.60 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude edged down by 32 cents, also 0.4 per cent down, to $70.55, as of 0005 GMT.

Monsoon expectations 

India's monsoon rains, the lifeblood of the country's economy, are likely to be delayed in 2023 and are forecast to hit the Kerala coast in the southwest on June 4, the state-run weather office said on Tuesday.

The monsoon, the lifeblood of the country's $3 trillion economy, delivers nearly 70 percent of the rain that India needs to water farms and recharge reservoirs and aquifers. Nearly half of India's farmland, without any irrigation cover, depends on annual June-September rains to grow a number of crops.

Q4 results

Prominent companies such as Indian Oil Corporation, Bharti Airtel, Bank of Baroda, LIC Housing Finance, and others announced their January-March quarter earnings for the financial year 2022-23 on Tuesday.

While companies such as Jubilant FoodWorks, REC, Whirlpool of India and others are scheduled to announce quarterly numbers on Wednesday.

LIC Q4 results date

Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) is all set to report its financial results for the January-March period as the corporate earnings season enters its last leg on Dalal Street.

LIC's board will meet on May 24 to consider and approve its financial results for the three-month period, according to a regulatory filing.

FII, DII flow

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) remained net buyers of Indian shares worth Rs 1,406.86 crore on Monday whereas domestic institutional investors (DIIs) remained net sellers to the tune of Rs 886.17 crore, according to provisional exchange data.

(With inputs from agencies)