Earnings, foreign investment, rupee key for stock markets this week: experts

New Delhi: Another set of December quarter results, global cues and foreign institutional investment (FII) trend will dictate the stock markets this week, according to experts. Besides, auto stocks will be in focus as companies from this sector report their sales data for January.

Among major earning this week are - Bharat Heavy Electricals, Ranbaxy Laboratories, ACC, Ambuja Cements and Tata Power Company.

"The trend that emerges for this week looks to be cautious on tech stocks, reality too should be in line of fire, banking stock holders should also tread carefully as dictate of the RBI on rates and taper by Federal Reserve may continue its impact on these shares," Amplus Consulting managing director Praveen Nigam said.

"Tech stocks should be the flavour in light of spectrum auction and its impact. Range bound volatility in the market shall continue."

"On Monday the HSBC manufacturing PMI will be announced. This could make markets volatile because we would see movements in sectors such as engineering, metal and auto," said Milan Bavishi, head of research at Inventure Growth and Securities.

"Movement in dollar-rupee will now take centre stage. An upward rise in dollar-rupee will restrict market's rise and can result in selling pressure building up on higher levels. It would be wise to book profits at regular intervals," he added.

On a weekly basis, the Sensex lost 619.71 points, or 2.93 per cent. This the worst show since the 1,138.11-point plunge in the week ended August 2, 2013.

In January 2014, the BSE Sensex slid 656.83 points - the worst performance since the 725.98-point drop in August 2013.

"In coming week, 6,050 shall be crucial deciding level in near term, and index is likely to witness further selling below this level. Below 6,050, likely target is 5,970-5,900, while above 6,100, target is 6,150-6,200," Bonanza Portfolio senior vice president Rakesh Goyal said.