Markets may see flat to positive opening

Indian equities are likely to open flat on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012. SGX Nifty is trading at 5,720.5 (07.14 a.m.), 16 points higher than Monday"s closeof 5,704.5.

Asian stocks rose as exporters advanced after the U.S. reported better-than-expected retail sales. Japanese benchmark index Nikkei 225 rose 87.16 points, or 1.02%, to trade at 8,665.09.

Oil prices fell below USD 92 a barrel Monday in international markets as Chinese economic indicators did little to raise hopes for a rebound in the world"s second-largest economy. Benchmark oil for November delivery was down 11 cents to USD 91.75 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, which is used to price international varieties of oil, added 57 cents to USD 115.19 a barrel in London.

US stocks climbed on Monday rebounding from last week"s losses after Citigroup"s earnings and retail sales sharply exceeded expectations. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 95.38 points, or 0.72%, to 13,424.23 at the close.

European stocks climbed on Monday amid an increase in mergers-and-acquisition activity and as a U.S. report showed retail sales rose more than forecast in September. UK"s benchmark index FTSE 100 advanced 12.29 points, or 0.21%, to end at 5,805.61.

In the spot market, the Dollar Index decreased 0.03% to 79.71 (21:32 ET).

World commodity prices fell on Monday with the decrease in Reuters Jefferies CRB Index by 0.65%.