GLOBAL MARKETS ROUNDUP * Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange SINc1 are 0.54 percent higher, while the MSCI-Asia Pacific index .MIAPJ0000PUS excluding Japan is up 0.56 percent. * Japanese stocks charged towards a 5-1/2 year peak on Thursday after the yen fell sharply on the back of relatively positive U.S. economic data, while other regional share markets edged modestly higher. MKTS/GLOB * The Dow and the S&P 500 closed at record highs on Wednesday, led by Hewlett-Packard's jump a day after the personal computer maker's earnings, while the Nasdaq finished at a 13-year high. .N EVENTS/FACTORS TO WATCH * India economic affairs secretary, stock market regulator chief to speak at an event on corporate bond market. * India cabinet to meet on Bali WTO deliberations. (1130 GMT) * The Mahindra Group is holding a press conference to announce a "strategic initiative". (1000 GMT) INDIAN STOCKS TO WATCH For additional press items double click IN-PRESS NOTE: Reuters has not verified third-party stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Rural India shows signs of economic revival but wider outlook glum ID:nL4N0J716A India's Tata withdraws application for bank licence ID:nL4N0JC2FL Indian ministries clash over capping foreign stakes in drug firms ID:nL4N0JB2UD With L&T deal through, Vedanta's bauxite woes in Orissa largely over - Financial Express (http://link.reuters.com/tym94v) Tata Power's generation rises 62 pct in H1FY14 - PTI in Financial Express (http://link.reuters.com/vym94v) India's ISMA sees sugar farmers, mills standoff resolved soon ID:nL5N0JC2J9 ALSTOM T&D India says price band for share issue to be 159-174 rupees/share ID:nWNBS008F3 Temasek unit buys stake in NYSE-listed India firm - Business Times ID:nL4N0JD01X Gammon gets a lifeline from lenders - Business Standard (http://link.reuters.com/wym94v) Varun Shipping set to lose licence to operate Indian-registered ships - Mint (http://link.reuters.com/xym94v) (Compiled By Manoj Rawal) ((manoj.rawal@thomsonreuters.com)(+91-22 6180-7219)(Reuters Messaging: manoj.rawal.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: MARKETS INDIA STOCKS/PRE OPEN