BSE Sensex to open lower after holiday

Mumbai, January 27: The BSE Sensex is set to open lower as trade resumes on Wednesday after a holiday, and catches up with a slide in world markets on Tuesday, putting the market on track for a sixth successive fall.

The Morgan Stanley Capital International’s measure of Asian markets, other than Japan, were down 0.1% at 0252 GMT, while Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.3%.

Nifty India stock futures in Singapore were down 1.8%, pointing to a sharply lower open in the domestic market.

“We may open lower today, to adjust with the losses in Asia on Tuesday,” said Mehul Dedhia, assistant vice-president of sales at brokerage Sharekhan.

Top motorcycle maker Hero Honda should find some support upside after reporting a forecast-beating 79% rise in quarterly net profit.

Largest consumer goods maker Hindustan Unilever reported a 5.4% quarterly rise in net profit, helped by property sales and the transfer of assets.

Non-ferrous metals producer Sterlite Industries may rise after it said its December quarter net profit rose 42%.

On the other hand, aluminium producer Hindalco’s net dipped 22%, and missed the street view.

Leading property firm DLF will report December quarter results on Wednesday.

On Monday, the 30-share BSE index dropped 0.47% to 16,780.46.

—Agencies