Markets may see flat to negative opening

Indian equities are likely to open flat on Monday, Oct. 22, 2012. SGX Nifty is trading at 5,666.5 (07.37 a.m.), 12.5 points lower than Friday's closeof 5,679.

Asian stocks fell as Japan's exports dropped at the fastest pace since last year's post-earthquake slump amid a global economic slowdown and a territorial dispute with China. Japanese benchmark index Nikkei 225 fell 84.58 points, or 0.94%, to trade at 8,918.10.

Oil pricesfell to USD 90 a barrel Friday after disappointing U.S. corporate earnings and a drop in existing home sales sparked worries again about the global economy. Benchmark oil fell USD 2.05 to finish at USD 90.05 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, which is used to price international varieties of oil, dropped USD 2.28, or 2%, to end at USD 110.14 a barrel in London.

US stocks extended losses on Friday, with major indexes down more than 1%, after disappointing results from Microsoft and General Electric. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 205.43 points, or 1.52%, to 13,343.51.

European stocks fell on Friday after rising to their highest valuation since 2010, and as European Union leaders failed to discuss further aid for Spain. UK's benchmark index FTSE 100 declined 20.90 points, or 0.35%, to end at 5,896.15.

In the spot market, the Dollar Index decreased 0.05% to 79.57 (21:53 ET).

World commodity prices fell on Friday with the decrease in Reuters Jefferies CRB Index by 0.87%.