Indian benchmark indices are expected to start the day in red on Friday. Corporate results will continue to be the top factor influencing market direction. Besides, investors will also track newsflow ahead of the Union Budget and stock-specific action for further direction today.

A total of 46 companies, including Ultratech Cement, Bank of Baroda, and JSW Steel, are scheduled to announce their December quarter results today.

Shares of Infosys might be in focus today as reports said that the Securities and Exchange Board of India -- SEBI -- is likely to call for a forensic audit of the company's books as it continues to probe whistleblower allegations of alleged financial irregularities at the company.

On Thursday, the 30-share benchmark index ended at 41386.4 up by 271.02 points or by 0.66 % and then NSE Nifty was at 12180.35 up by 73.45 points or by 0.61 %.

On the global front, in the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 gained 0.1 per cent each and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.2 per cent.

Stocks made a barely positive start in early Asian trade on Friday after the world’s health body called it a little too early to declare a coronavirus outbreak a global emergency. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose a marginal 0.1 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei stood flat and Australian stocks added 0.4 per cent. The SGX Nifty, though, indicated a lowering opening for Sensex and Nifty.

Coronavirus fears continued to weigh on commodity prices. US WTI crude futures were up a marginal 0.05 per cent at $55.61 a barrel after hitting the lowest level in two months in the previous session.

Back home, Top traded Volumes on NSE Nifty – Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. 209929135.00, YES Bank Ltd. 178774952.00, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. 127158366.00, State Bank of India 33293610.00, Tata Motors Ltd. 33032086.00, On NSE, total number of shares traded was 25.55 Crore and total turnover stood at Rs. 43397.58 Crore.

On NSE Future and Options, total number of contracts traded in index futures was 319856 with a total turnover of Rs. 23375.02 Crore. Along with this total number of contracts traded in stock futures were 942930 with a total turnover of Rs. 63414.39 Crore. Total numbers of contracts for index options were 48573863 with a total turnover of Rs. 3286011.12 Crore. and total numbers of contracts for stock options were 1000010 with a total turnover of Rs. 72584.00 Crore.

The FIIs on 23/01/2020 stood as net buyer in equity and debt. Gross equity purchased stood at Rs. 5336.72 Crore and gross debt purchased stood at Rs. 816.31 Crore, while the gross equity sold stood at Rs. 5307.97 Crore and gross debt sold stood at Rs. 952.61 Crore. Therefore, the net investment of equity and debt reported were Rs. 28.75 Crore and Rs. -136.30