Stock market today, Dec. 17 -- India's benchmark equity indices, the Sensex and Nifty 50, are expected to open marginally higher but largely flat on Wednesday, December 17, after posting losses in the previous two sessions.

Asian markets slipped in early trade, tracking a subdued close on Wall Street, as softer US employment data failed to bolster expectations of further interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, crude oil prices surged after US President Donald Trump announced "a total and complete" blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers moving in and out of Venezuela, heightening geopolitical concerns.

On Tuesday, Indian equities ended sharply lower, as the rupee hit record lows and subdued global cues weighed on investor s...