Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could fall 7 points at the opening bell.

Overseas, Asian stocks were trading on a mixed note. US stocks edged lower on Friday, 17 March 2017 with investors awaiting further catalysts before jumping back into the market. In the latest economic data, industrial production was flat in February. Separately, the index of consumer sentiment rose to 97.6 in March from 96.3 in February, based on a preliminary reading by the University Michigan.

Financial leaders from the world's biggest economies reiterated their warnings against competitive devaluations and disorderly foreign exchange markets at the meeting in the German town of Baden-Baden over the weekend. But they failed to agree on a commitment to keep global trade free and open, highlighting a global shift toward protectionism.

Back home, the key benchmark indices closed with small gains on the final trading session of the week on Friday, 17 March 2017 as reports suggesting that the Goods & Services Tax (GST) Council cleared all legislations required for launching GST regime from July supported gains on the bourses. The Sensex rose 63.14 points or 0.21% to settle at 29,648.99, its highest closing level since 29 January 2015.

The trading activity on that day showed that the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 1532.90 crore on Friday, 17 March 2017, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 711.50 crore on Friday, 17 March 2017, as per provisional data.

Among corporate news, NTPC announced on Sunday, 19 March 2017, that second unit of 660 MW of Mouda Super Thermal Power Station Stage-II (2 X 660 MW) has been commissioned. With this, the commissioned capacity of Mouda Super Thermal Power Station, NTPC and NTPC group has become 2320 MW, 41907 MW and 48873 MW respectively.

NTPC announced on Saturday, 18 March 2017, that first unit of 195 megawatts (MW) of Kanti Thermal Power Station Stage-II (2 X 195 MW) of Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam (a subsidiary of NTPC) is declared on commercial operation from 00:00 Hrs of 18 March 2017. Separately, NTPC announced on Saturday, 18 March 2017, that 25 MW of Bhadla Solar Power Project of NTPC has been commissioned. With this, the installed capacity of Bhadla Solar Power project has become 185 MW and that of NTPC's solar power projects has become 545 MW.