Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could fall 26 points at the opening bell.

Overseas, Asian stocks were trading lower. US stocks fell yesterday, 8 November 2018 after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged while confirming it was still on course to hike in December.

Back home, key benchmark indices settled with modest gains on Wednesday, 7 November 2018, in a shortened trading session marking the start of the Hindu new year, Samvat 2075. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, gained 245.77 points or 0.70% to settle at 35,237.68. The Nifty 50 index rose 68.40 points or 0.65% to settle at 10,598.40.

Domestic stock markets were open for a special Muhurat trading session on Wednesday, 7 November 2018 between 17:15 IST and 18:30 IST. Stock markets remained shut yesterday, 8 November 2018 on account of Diwali Balipratipada.

The trading activity on that day showed that the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 31.02 crore on Wednesday, 7 November 2018, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 27.11 crore Wednesday, 7 November 2018, as per provisional data.

Among corporate news,  GAIL (India) announced award of contract for the purchase of 616 km of line pipe worth Rs 1100 crore for the Barauni -Guwahati pipeline, putting on fast track project execution of the crucial 729 km feeder line linking North East India with the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga pipeline network. The award of the contract will ensure commencement of spurline laying activities of the Barauni — Guwahati pipeline from December 2018. The under construction pipeline will connect the upcoming 'Indradhanush' gas grid network to the national gas network. The announcement was made on Thursday, 8 November 2018.