The benchmark Sensex and Nifty indices are likely to open higher on March 28 as trends in the GIFT Nifty indicate a positive start for the broader index with a gain of 14 points.

Today, is also the monthly F&O expiry, and the last trading day for March and the fiscal year. The Nifty so far is up 0.6 per cent for the month, and 27.4 per cent for the financial year FY24.

Besides, markets will also usher in the same-day or T+0 settlement cycle from today on an optional basis for a handful of stocks.

On Thursday, among individual stocks, Maruti which topped the Rs 4 trillion market capitalisation yesterday will be in focus after the company announced a rejig in its top management.

On Wednesday, the 30-share benchmark index ended at 72996.31 up by 526.01 points or by 0.73 % and then NSE Nifty was at 22123.65 up by 118.95 points or by 0.54 %.

On the global front, in Asia this morning, Nikkei slipped 1.3 per cent. Kospi and Taiwan declined 0.5 per cent each. Hang Seng and Shanhgai too were marginally in red.

Overnight in the US, benchmark indices snapped their 3-day losing streak and ended with notable gains ahead of the much anticipated Personal Consumption Expenditure Price Index (PCE) data on Friday. Dow Jones rallied over 1 per cent, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq gained 0.9 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively.

Back home, Top traded Volumes on NSE Nifty – NTPC Ltd. 45209520.00, Tata Steel Ltd. 35328794.00, HDFC Bank Ltd. 31084334.00, State Bank of India 30088789.00, Oil And Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. 28563001.00,

On NSE, total number of shares traded was 42.26 Crore and total turnover stood at Rs. 119877.10 Crore.

On NSE Future and Options, total number of contracts traded in index futures was 497245 with a total turnover of Rs. 44061.20 Crore. Along with this total number of contracts traded in stock futures were 3253552 with a total turnover of Rs. 266696.93 Crore. Total numbers of contracts for index options were 619907623 with a total turnover of Rs. 46733696.53 Crore. and total numbers of contracts for stock options were 6042573 with a total turnover of Rs. 517913.46 Crore.

The FIIs on 27/03/2024 stood as net buyer in equity and debt. Gross equity purchased stood at Rs. 20870.39 Crore and gross debt purchased stood at Rs. 3609.56 Crore, while the gross equity sold stood at Rs. 24040.98 Crore and gross debt sold stood at Rs. 1127.31 Crore. Therefore, the net investment of equity and debt reported were Rs. -3170.59 Crore and Rs. 2482.25