Market News
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MFs pull back: Stakes cut in 11 smallcap stocks in Q3 after two quarters of buying
Mutual funds have sold shares in 67 BSE small-cap companies. This move follows two quarters of buying. Many of these stocks have seen their prices drop significantly this fiscal year. Some have gained substantially. However, the focus is on the major losers. This shift in mutual fund strategy warrants investor attention.
Markets in ‘fear phase’, deploy money in autos, banks, capital goods: AlfAccurate’s Rajesh Kothari
The sharp correction in Indian equities triggered by fears of a prolonged war in West Asia should be viewed as a buying opportunity, according to Rajesh Kothari, Managing Director at AlfAccurate Advisors.Benchmark indices declined nearly 3% this week — their steepest weekly fall in over a year — as rising crude oil prices and geopolitical tensions rattled investor sentiment. Financial stocks led the decline, with the Nifty Bank logging its biggest weekly drop in 14 months.However, Kothari believes the selloff reflects sentiment rather than a deterioration in underlying economic fundamentals.“We are currently in a fearful phase of the market. When others are fearful, that’s usually the time to be greedy,” Kothari told CNBC-TV18, advising investors to deploy money gradually over the next 30–60 days rather than attempting to time the market.He emphasised that the outcome of the West Asia conflict is less important for markets than its duration. While companies with exposure to the Middle East could face short-term uncertainty, the broader domestic growth story remains intact.Against this backdrop, Kothari highlighted four sectors that investors should focus on.Autos remain a key bet, supported by strong demand trends and low inventory levels across the industry. February sales data was robust, and leading automakers have reported healthy growth, signalling sustained momentum.Banking and financials are another preferred sector. Credit growth has improved to around 13% from about 8.5% earlier, while asset quality remains strong. According to Kothari, the sector could become a “strong buy on declines” if crude-driven inflation concerns ease.He also sees opportunities in capital goods, particularly companies reporting strong order inflows as India’s investment cycle picks up.Lastly, hospitals stand out as a defensive play. The sector remains largely insulated from geopolitical risks and technological disruptions such as artificial intelligence.“These are strong India stori
Taking Stock: Market rally continues; Nifty near 24,200, Sensex gains 254 points
Biggest Nifty gainers were Max Healthcare, Interglobe Aviation, Trent, Bharat Electronics, Adani Enterprises, while losers included Infosys, Maruti Suzuki, Tech Mahindra, Tata Consumer and TCS.
Taking Stock: Markets snap 2-day fall; Sensex up 395 pts, Nifty above 23,200
Biggest Nifty gainers were Interglobe Aviation, Jio Financial, Eicher Motors, SBI, Apollo Hospitals, while losers included ONGC, Titan Company, NTPC, Power Grid Corp and Tech Mahindra.