The market may remain range bound as investors are likely to stay on the sidelines ahead of the onset of the Q4 March 2008 earnings reporting season, to get more clarity on outlook on corporate profits. This is particularly so at a time when some analysts expect earnings downgrades for the coming years amid slowdown in economic growth in India arising from uncertain global conditions. Kotak Securities has said in a recent report that there are very few sectors that do not face pricing or margin issues.

Analysts will be closely watching what the company managements have to say about the outlook for the year ending March 2009 (FY 2009). Analysts will also scrutinize disclosures that companies may make regarding foreign exchange derivatives products that they have bought on the advice of their bankers. A steep decline in the value of the US dollar against the Japanese Yen and the Swiss Franc hit Indian corporates which have used these two currencies (Yen and Franc) extensively to swap their rupee denominated debt.

Stock-specific activity may rule the roost depending on the guidance given by company managements for FY 2009 at the time of announcing Q4 March 2008 results. IT bellwether Infosys Technologies kickstarts the earnings reporting season on 15 April 2008.

Prospects of further monetary tightening by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) following a surge in inflation is a cause for concern at a time when the already high rates are pinching the domestic industry. The surge in inflation to a 14-month high in mid-March 2008 has triggered fears that RBI my raise cash reserve ratio (CRR). An increase in CRR would suck out liquidity immediately pushing up the cost of funds and thereby curbing demand. The government will today release inflation data for the year through 22 March 2008.

As per provisional data, foreign funds sold shares worth a net Rs 393.41 crore on Thursday, 3 April 2008. Domestic funds bought shares worth a net Rs 265.39 crore.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers of Rs 132.39 crore in the futures & options segment on Thursday. According to data released by the NSE, FIIs were net buyers of index futures to the tune of Rs 248.96 crore. They sold index options worth Rs 86.22 crore. They were net sellers of stock futures to the tune of Rs 28.70 crore and sold stock options worth Rs 1.66 crore.

Japans Nikkei edged 0.6% lower in cautious trade today, 4 April 2008, ahead of US jobs data later in the session that will provide fresh clues on the world's largest economy. Stock markets in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong were closed today for the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday.

US stocks edged up on Thursday, after a report that Merrill Lynch & Co does not need to raise more capital eased fears of a deeper credit crisis and offset concern that monthly jobs data would point to a recession. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 20.20 points or 0.16% at 12,626.03. The tech-laden Nasdaq Composite index rose 1.90 points or 0.08% to 2,363.30.

Meanwhile, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) today launches the trading of Sensex-based futures on the US Futures Exchange (USFE) in Chicago. The contract will have a notional value of $40,000 and a tick value of $10. The clearing and settlement will take place through The Clearing Corporation, Chicago.

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