Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could fall 5 points at the opening bell.

On the macro front, India's gross domestic product (GDP) growth moderated to six-quarters low of 6.6% in Q3 of 2018-19 from 7.0% growth recorded in the previous quarter and 7.7% improvement in the corresponding quarter last year. Quarterly Gross Value Added (GVA) growth also eased to 6.3% in Q3 of 2018-19 from 6.8% in Q2 of 2018-19 and 7.3% in Q3FY of 2017-18.

The GDP growth estimate for 2018-19 is revised downward to 7.0% from 7.2% growth estimated at first advances estimate level released in January 2019. The GDP growth for agriculture sector is expected to ease to 2.7% and services sector to 7.4% in 2018-19, while industrial sector growth estimate to accelerate to 7.7% in 2018-19.

The output of eight core industries comprising 40.27%of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose 1.8% in January 2019 over January 2018. Its cumulative output increased 4.5% in April to January 2018-19.

Overseas, Asian shares rose on Friday, driven by a rally in Chinese markets after index publisher MSCI announced it would boost the proportion of mainland shares in its global benchmarks. U.S. stocks on Thursday finished near their lows after data showed U.S. economic growth came in a better-than-expected rate in the fourth quarter.

Back home, domestic stocks ended with small losses yesterday, 28 February 2019 after a volatile session. Intraday volatility was high as traders rolled over positions in the F&O segment from the near month February 2019 series to March 2019 series. The February 2019 F&O contracts expired yesterday, 28 February 2019. The Sensex fell 37.99 points or 0.11% to settle at 35,867.44. The Nifty 50 index fell 14.15 points or 0.13% to settle at 10,792.50.

The trading activity on that day showed that the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 3210.60 crore yesterday, 28 February 2019, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 5240.62 crore yesterday, 28 February 2019, as per provisional data.

Among corporate news, Bharti Airtel said that its board approved raising upto Rs 32,000 crore through rights issue of upto Rs 25,000 crore and perpetual bond with equity credit upto Rs 7000 crore. Rights issue price is set at Rs 220 per fully paid equity share. The company will issue 19 rights shares for every 67 equity shares held by eligible shareholders as on the record date. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 28 February 2019.

Kotak Mahindra Bank revised the marginal cost of funds based lending rate downwards by up to 5 basis points (bps) with effect from 1 March 2019 for various tenors. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 28 February 2019.

HDFC Bank said it will buy a 9.11% stake in CSC E-Governance Services. The acquisition, for Rs 14.62 crore, which HDFC Bank termed as a strategic investment, will be on cash basis. The bank executed an agreement for subscribing to 37,993 equity shares of face value of Rs 1,000 each to be issued by CSC E- Governance Services India at Rs 3,848 per equity share. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 28 February 2019.