Indian markets may begin flat as Asian peers remain shut

Key benchmark are likely to kick off the new year on a flat note as Asian peers are shut on account of new year holiday. Trading volumes are likely to remain thin as overall participation may be less. The SGX Nifty indicates Nifty may open almost unchanged around the level of 10,921.  
  
Asian markets are closed on Tuesday for the new year holiday.  
  
Back home, frontline indices started off the final trading session of calendar year 2018 on a cheerful note. However, due to lack of follow-up buying, indices came off from early highs and turned choppy to bid adieu to the year 2018 on a quiet note.  The Nifty settled with a gain of 0.02 per cent, while the BSE Sensex dipped 0.02 per cent to end at 36,068. The broader indices put up a good show as Nifty Mid-cap and Small-cap gained 0.46 and 0.77 per cent, respectively. On the sectoral front, barring Nifty Realty and Nifty FMCG, all other indices ended in the green with Nifty Metal ending as the top gainer.  
  
The US stocks ended firmly in the positive territory on Monday. Sentiments got a lift after a word from the White House suggested that negotiations with China over trade and tariffs were making progress, as well as signs that a deal may be taking shape to potentially end a partial US government shutdown that continues into the second week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.15 per cent and the S&P 500 surged 0.85 per cent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose 0.77 per cent.  
  
The European stocks closed higher on the final day of the turbulent year. The CAC of France soared 1.11 per cent, while UK’s FTSE 100 closed almost flat with minor losses. The German DAX was closed for holiday.