Sensex dips below 17,000 mark

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty declined by 42.65 points,or 0.82 per cent,to 5,152.10 points.

Brokers said continued selling by funds amid a weak trend on other Asian markets mainly influenced the trading sentiment.

In addition,squaring-up of positions by participants as today being the last session of monthly expiry in the derivatives segment,also dampened the sentiment,they said.

All sectoral indices were trading in the negative zone with losses up to 1.30 per cent.

In the Asian region,the Hong Kong8217;s Hang Seng index fell by 0.99 per cent,while Japan8217;s Nikkei was down by 0.78 per cent higher in the early trade today.

PRE-OPEN: Indian stocks to watch-March 29

GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS ROUNDUP

Asian shares eased for a second day in a row on Thursday,as investors limited their risk exposures on concerns about growth prospects in the world8217;s two largest economies,the United States and China.

US stocks declined on Wednesday as sliding oil and metals prices gave investors a reason to sell commodity-related shares.

KEY EVENTS TO WATCH

India hosts a summit of BRICS Brazil,Russia,India,China,and South Africa nations leaders on March 29 in New Delhi. All Day

Goldman Sachs8217; three-day annual board meeting starts in Mumbai on Thursday. The bank8217;s chairman Lloyd Blankfein,chief operating officer Gary Cohn and other officials of its 12-member board will be in India for the meeting,to be held for the first time in the country. All Day.

Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde will address the media in New Delhi to talk about the government8217;s achievements in the power sector and the challenges it faces. 0830 GMT

India8217;s Tata Communications has to decide by Thursday whether it will make a bid for British telecom group Cable amp; Wireless Worldwide. All Day

INDIAN STOCKS TO WATCH

India8217;s tax office has frozen shares owned by Unitech Ltd in a mobile phone joint venture with Norway8217;s Telenor over a tax demand the Indian real estate company disputes as baseless.

On Wednesday,CNBC TV18 reported Heineken may buy 12-13 per cent of Mallya8217;s stake in United Breweries.

India will sell 180 billion rupees 3.54 billion of bonds on April 3,the Reserve Bank of India said on Wednesday.

Troubled Indian carrier Kingfisher Airlines Ltd has named three independent directors on its board to comply with rules,after the last of its independent directors quit last week amid growing concerns over its survival.

Danish telecoms operator TDC said on Wednesday it had entered a deal with Indian group Tata Consultancy Services to replace US company CSC as its IT services provider.

MSP Steel and Power said its board will meet on March 31 to consider the issuance of preferential equity shares.

The BRICS group of emerging world powerhouses 8211; Brazil,Russia,India,China and South Africa 8211; is set to outline plans at a summit this week for a joint development bank,while the five countries8217; stock exchanges will also move closer together.

FACTORS TO WATCH

India rupee ends off lows; sentiment remains weak

Supply seen pushing Indian bond yields to 4-mth high

Yen still firm,but year-end support seen waning

Oil falls on rise in crude stocks,reserves talk

Shares ease on US,China growth worries

Wall St eases as energy and materials sectors weigh

Foreign institutional investor flows

For closing rates of Indian ADRs