• The market may edge higher tracking gains in Asian stocks which surged after the latest data showed a jump in manufacturing activity across Asia, euro zone and in US.

• US markets rose on Monday after a positive manufacturing report.

• Closer home, strong auto sales in January 2010 and the nation’s exports showing positive growth for the second month in a row in December 2009, may also boost investor sentiment.

• The manufacturing in January 2010 grew at its fastest pace in almost 1-1/2 years, driven by a sharp rise in new export orders that are supporting a recovery in the industrial sector.

• Asian markets rose on Tuesday after a positive manufacturing report in US. The key benchmark indices in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan rose by between 0.54% to 1.88%.

• In US markets, the Dow kicked off February with a triple digit gain after some strong earnings report and a positive manufacturing report. The Dow added 118.20 points, or 1.2%, to 10,185.53. The broader Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 15.32 points, or 1.4%, to 1,089.19. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 23.85 points, or 1.1%, to 2,171.20.

• As per provisional figures on NSE, foreign funds sold shares worth Rs 494.66 crore and domestic funds bought shares worth Rs 199.83 crore on Monday.