Sebi chief CB Bhave asked the stock markets to resume trading on Friday at regular time.

“We have asked the exchanges to be ready to start trading. We have kept our options open, we will take a final call later. No time has been fixed for the decision,” he added.

Mr. Bhave also said that the market regulator (SEBI) is monitoring the situation closely.

The NCDEX would also open today for trading.

The forex, money, bond and commodity exchanges have opened already.

Frankfurt  - German bank Commerzbank announced late Thursday that it would accelerate its planned takeover of Dresdner Bank from the current parent, insurance group Allianz, at barely half the earlier price.

Under a revision of the deal first struck in August, Frankfurt- based Commerzbank, Germany's second largest bank, will complete the takeover in January, rather than in the second half of 2009 as originally agreed.

Tokyo  - Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose in a morning of mixed trading Friday, but its gains were capped by a gloomy economic outlook.

The Nikkei rose 47.7 points, or 0.57 per cent, to 8,421.09, but the broader Topix index of all first-section issues dipped 0.21 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 828.82.

Increases were limited after Japan's home electronics company Panasonic Corp slashed its earnings projections for the current fiscal year, which ends March 31.

Tokyo 

New York - US stocks soared Wednesday for a fourth straight trading session.

Since its November 20 close, the broad-based Standard & Poor's 500 Index has gained 18 per cent as president-elect Barack Obama has announced appointments to financial posts within his administration and endorsed a push for major financial stimulus legislation. He takes office on January 20.