The major focus would be on the retail inflation data from India and the U.S., both due on Wednesday.
The U.S. consumer price inflation data would be the last one
before the Federal Reserve's policy decision on May 3. It will
play a pivotal role in the Fed's rate hike decision, with the
odds of a 25-basis point (bps) hike rising to over 70%.
India's consumer inflation likely eased in March to 5.80%,
thanks to softer food price rises, dipping below the Reserve
Bank of India's (RBI) upper tolerance limit of 6% for the first
time in 2023, a Reuters poll of economists found.
Last week, the RBI surprised markets by holding its key
interest rate steady at 6.50% after six consecutive hikes when
most expected a 25-bps rise, leading to bond yields plunging.
However, bond yields remained largely rangebound on
continued profit booking from state-run banks, even as the
market shifted focus to inflation data.
Traders will also remain focussed on the central
government's debt sale. New Delhi aims to raise 390 billion
rupees via the sale of bonds, which includes new three-year and
seven-year bonds.
($1 = 81.9750 Indian rupees)
(Reporting by Dharamraj Dhutia; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)