The local market is likely to see a flat-to-positive opening today. Wall Street closed in the green overnight on earnings boost from Citigroup and economic data. The Asian pack was mostly higher on Citigroup’s positive earnings report and ambiguous economic news from the US. The SGX Nifty was up seven points at 6,140 against a close of 6,133 on Monday.

Opening with marginal gains, the Indian market soon dipped into the red on profit taking yesterday. A sharply volatile session saw the indices trade in a narrow range in the negative terrain till the post-noon session. A green opening of the key European markets gave the much-needed boost helping the domestic market closing near the high-point of the day.

The Sensex finally ended the day up 43.84 points (0.22%) at 20,169. The benchmark touched an intraday high of 6,115 and a low of 5,985.

Earnings report from Citigroup propped US financial stocks resulting in the indices closing in the green on Monday. Investors braced themselves for earning reports from Apple and IBM, which were announced after trade closed for the day. Besides, the National Association of Home Builders said its housing-market index rose three points to 16 in October, the first improvement in five months.

Citigroup’s third-quarter earnings topped analysts' estimates. Revenue rose 2%, meeting expectations, as the company managed to grow its core businesses broadly. After regular trading hours, Apple tanked 6.3% despite reporting stronger earnings, as gross margins missed analysts' expectations and iPad sales disappointed.

IBM tumbled 4% in late trading after reporting that its signed service contracts fell 7%. Microsoft slipped 2.4% after-hours on reports that Ray Ozzie, its chief software architect, is retiring.

The Dow gained 69.63 points (0.63%) to 11,132. The S&P 500 added 5.56 points (0.47%) to 1,181. The Nasdaq added 5.03 points (0.20%) to 2,474.

Markets in Asia were mostly higher in early trade. While banking stocks received a boost from Citigroup’s earnings report, weaker-than-expected industrial production for September ignited fresh worries about the global recovery.

The Shanghai Composite was up 0.35%, Hang Seng gained 0.85%, Jakarta Composite was up 0.63%, KLSE Composite was up 0.40%, Nikkei 225 was up 0.53%, Straits Times was up 0.27%, Seoul Composite was up 0.05% and Taiwan Weighted gained 0.10%.

Interim pension regulator PFRDA on Monday said that Bajpai-headed committee report on overhauling the structure of all citizens' pension scheme is expected next month.

"The Bajpai committee report we should be having in a month or so," Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) chairman Yogesh Agarwal told reporters on the sidelines of a PHD chamber event.

PFRDA has appointed a committee headed by former Securities and Exchange Board of India chairman G N Bajpai to look into the fee structure and suggest changes of New Pension System (NPS).