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Domestic equity markets look set for a gap-down start on Friday, tracking weak cues from Asian peers. US stocks dropped sharply lower on Thursday following Fed tapering signals. Back home, traders will be eyeing the result of IT major HCL Technologies.

Oil prices eased for a second session on Friday on growing concerns that Washington may soon act to cool prices, while movement controls in China to rein in a COVID-19 outbreak weighed on fuel demand. Brent crude futures fell 30 cents, or 0.4%, to $84.17 a barrel at 0150 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down 45 cents, or 0.6%, at $81.67 a barrel.

Several Fed officials spoke publicly about battling high inflation with Lael Brainard the latest, and most senior, U.S. central banker signaling that the Fed was getting ready to start raising rates in March.

Asian shares took a beating on Friday after a fresh salvo of hawkish remarks from Federal Reserve officials solidified expectations that U.S. interest rates could rise as soon as March, leaving markets braced for tighter monetary conditions.

“Fundamentally, post 2018, a lot has changed. Larger banks will continue to drive consolidation as far as the entire banking sector is concerned.”

The global crypto market cap was up by more than 3 per cent to $2.07 trillion mark compared to the last day. The total crypto market volume jumped over 14 per cent to $100.44 billion.

The cryptocurrency market extended its gains to Thursday, with Bitcoin leading the way and most of the altcoins following suit, boosted by US inflation data. Barring the dollar pegged USD coin, all other nine out of top-10 digital tokens were trading higher at 8.30 am IST. Terra and Cardano zoomed 10 per cent each, followed by a 6 per cent rise in Solana.

In the spot market, the highest purity gold was sold at Rs 47,943 per 10 grams. Silver was priced at Rs 60,831 per kg on Wednesday, according to the Indian Bullion and Jewellers Association.

In the case of Infosys, CLSA said the third quarter results highlighted the demand momentum and efficient cost management.

Ajanta Pharma Ltd., incorporated in the year 1979, is a Mid Cap company (having a market cap of Rs 19942.17 Crore) operating in Pharmaceuticals sector.