SGX Nifty:
Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could rise 22 points at the opening bell.
Global markets:
Overseas, Asian stocks are trading mixed on Friday as investors looked ahead to the Bank of Japan s rate decision and monetary policy statement expected later in the day.
In US, stocks closed at record levels on Thursday, boosted by hope of Washington coming through on additional fiscal aid before the end of 2020.
Congressional negotiators in Washington were scrambling on Thursday to agree on details of a $900 billion COVID-19 aid bill. Lawmakers from both parties said failing to agree was not an option. Earlier Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said talks could spill into the weekend.
McConnell said the Senate would remain in session through the weekend if necessary to reach a deal.
Written By:
Patricia Zengerle and Richard Cowan / Reuters | 2:36 pm, Dec. 18, 2020 ×
The U.S. Capitol dome is seen at night in Washington on Dec. 17. REUTERS/Erin Scott
WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Backed into a corner, the U.S. Congress on Friday risked blowing through a midnight deadline to keep the government open and address the coronavirus crisis, as a partisan fight over federal lending rules caused a fresh delay on a $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill.
After months of partisan finger-pointing and inaction, Republicans and Democrats have been negotiating intensely on what is expected to be the biggest package since spring to provide relief to a country struggling with a pandemic killing over 3,000 people a day.
Asia shares slip on news U S to blacklist more Chinese firms - Netscape Money & Business netscape.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from netscape.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Several US Political Leaders Line Up For Early Coronavirus Vaccines Several US Political Leaders Line Up For Early Coronavirus Vaccines President-elect Joe Biden, who will take office on January 20, announced he would take the vaccine, also in public, on Monday.
US Vice President Mike Pence got early Covid-19 vaccinations Friday.
Washington:
Several senior US officials including Vice President Mike Pence got early Covid-19 vaccinations Friday, contrasting with Europe, where two leaders were quarantining after testing positive and EU regulators have yet to approve a vaccine.
Pence s public inoculation against the coronavirus was the most high-profile attempt yet at persuading vaccine-skeptic Americans to join a massive national effort to halt a pandemic that has killed at least 1.66 million people and infected more than 74 million worldwide.
Democrats Abandon Insistence On Aid to Cash-strapped Cities and States in Stimulus Talks
On 12/18/20 at 5:07 PM EST
Congressional debate over the pending $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill again underscores the split between Democrats and Republicans over who should receive the funds and how the money can best be used.
Critics charge that Democrats seek to use the Federal Reserve, the nation s central bank, to funnel billions in aid to state and local governments. Opponents argue that such a move would, in effect, be a transfer of wealth from low-tax, well-governed states to high-tax, profligate states.
Senator Pat Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican, said he wants to redirect about $429 billion in unspent money from the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) to cover nearly 50% of the cost of the proposed new spending. President Donald Trump signed the CARES Act into law in March. It included direct payments of up to $1,200 to millions of individual