Indian shares set to open higher on US rate-cut euphoria
BENGALURU, Sept 20 (Reuters) -Indian shares are set to open higher on Friday, as an outsized interest rate reduction by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the anticipation of a soft landing for the world's largest economy boosted risk appetite across global markets.
The GIFT Nifty GIFc1 was at 25,523 points, as of 07:55 a.m. IST, indicating the NSE Nifty 50 .NSEI will open slightly above its close of 25,415.8 on Thursday.
Other Asian markets opened higher, with the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index .MIAPJ0000PUS.
China markets were the only exception, with the blue-chip CSI 300 .CSI300 losing about 0.3%, after the central bank held its benchmark lending rates steady, hurting expectations of further policy support to revive its economy.
Wall Street equities closed higher overnight, with the S&P 500 .SPX hitting a record high.
The larger-than-expected Fed's rate cut on Wednesday and data showing smaller-than-expected weekly jobless claims on Thursday injected optimism that the U.S. economy could achieve soft landing - a scenario of cooling inflation without triggering an economic recession. MKTS/GLOB
India's benchmark indexes NSE Nifty 50 .NSEI and S&P BSE Sensex .BSESN hit record highs on Thursday.
"Foreign inflows into India could accelerate if the Fed easing cycle triggers a risk-on rally in the U.S., creating enough momentum to protect domestic markets against downsides," said Seshadri Sen and Arthkumar Gandhi, analysts at Emkay Global.
Among individual stocks, private lender Axis Bank AXBK.NS will be in focus after the country's market regulator on Thursday barred its investment banking unit Axis Capital from acting as a merchant banker for new debt issues for allegedly violating rules.
The Indian bank said Axis Capital is of the view that activities in debt segment were in compliance with regulators and will continue to operate in all other segments including in equity markets.
STOCKS TO WATCH
** IIFL Finance IIFL.NS says the Reserve of India lifts curbs on its gold loan business. nL4N3L114V
** Phoenix Mills PHOE.NS says its unit has been declared as the highest bidder for two plots in Punjab, with a combined bid value of 8.91 billion rupees ($106.6 million). nFWN3L102P
** NTPC NTPC.NS receives investment approval for Darlipali super thermal power project at 111.31 billion rupees and Sipat super thermal power project at 97.92 billion rupees. nFWN3L10V4
** Abbott India ABOT.NS signs a non-exclusive patent license agreement with Japan's Takeda Pharma to market and distribute a drug to treat ulcers. nFWN3L10UK
($1 = 83.6060 Indian rupees)
Reporting by Bharath Rajeswaran in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips
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