Pre Session- Sensex to open lower on weak Asia trend

The key domestic benchmarks are likely to open lower today tracking a mostly bearish trend in fellow Asian peers as heightened geopolitical risks amid US air strikes in Syria against the Islamic State extremists and concerns over the European economy prompt investors to cut exposure to risky assets. China’s Shanghai Composite was trading with slim losses after Goldman Sachs cuts its economic growth forecast for the world’s second biggest economy in 2015 to 7.1 per cent from 7.6 per cent estimated earlier. Hang Seng rose while Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell as a stronger yen dimmed the appeal of exporter stocks. Back home, the Sensex may continue to see volatility during the session as traders roll over their positions before the September F&O contract expiry tomorrow. Shares of mining companies may be in focus today as the Supreme Court gives its decision on the fate of coal permits today after ruling last month that over 200 coal blocks allocated since July 1993 were illegal.