Indian equity markets are likely to start the day on firm note on Friday after Q2 GDP beat expectations with a 7.6-per cent growth rate.

All eyes would now be on the Manufacturing PMI data for November, due to be released later today.

Meanwhile, most exit polls on Thursday predicted photo finish in Rajasthan, with a couple of them suggesting that the Congress could be on the cusp of breaking a quarter-century trend of the state’s electorate throwing out the party in power.

The surprise, according to at least two exit polls, could be Madhya Pradesh (MP) where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might secure a historic landslide.

On Thursday, the 30-share benchmark index ended at 66988.44 up by 86.53 points or by 0.13 % and then NSE Nifty was at 20133.15 up by 36.55 points or by 0.18 %.

On the global front, Asia-Pacific markets started Friday lower, even as Wall Street mostly saw gains overnight, and ahead of private factory activity surveys from across the region.

Kospi was leading the losses in the region with a cut of over 1 per cent. This was followed by weakness in ASX 200 and Hang Seng (down 0.5 per cent each), Shanghai Composite (0.34 per cent), Nikkei (0.1 per cent).

On Wall Street, Dow Jones surged 1.47 per cent, S&P 500 gained 0.38 per cent, but Nasdaq fell 0.23 per cent. Back home, Top traded Volumes on NSE Nifty – Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. 60354322.00, IndusInd Bank Ltd. 45549217.00, Tata Steel Ltd. 40165104.00, HDFC Bank Ltd. 34745720.00, Axis Bank Ltd. 24755589.00, On NSE, total number of shares traded was 66.31 Crore and total turnover stood at Rs. 167934.29 Crore.

On NSE Future and Options, total number of contracts traded in index futures was 668203 with a total turnover of Rs. 55175.26 Crore. Along with this total number of contracts traded in stock futures were 3357233 with a total turnover of Rs. 251268.59 Crore. Total numbers of contracts for index options were 292157354 with a total turnover of Rs. 28605933.37 Crore. and total numbers of contracts for stock options were 4650410 with a total turnover of Rs. 362694.10 Crore.

The FIIs on 30/11/2023 stood as net buyer in equity and debt. Gross equity purchased stood at Rs. 16945.48 Crore and gross debt purchased stood at Rs. 1647.86 Crore, while the gross equity sold stood at Rs. 12632.18 Crore and gross debt sold stood at Rs. 1343.74 Crore. Therefore, the net investment of equity and debt reported were Rs. 4313.30 Crore and Rs. 304.12