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Benchmark Nifty closed higher for the third consecutive week, logging the highest weekly gain in four months. The index is expected to continue its upward trajectory towards its record high levels of 26,277 if a breakout over 25,800-26,000 sustains. If it fails, there is room for consolidation around 25,000 levels, and investors can use this as a buying opportunity. The banking and financials pack, along with the consumption-themed sectors like automobiles and FMCG offer better bets, while the outlook is cautious for IT, said analysts.ROHAN SHAH TECHNICAL ANALYST, ASIT C MEHTA INVESTMENTWhere is Nifty headed this week? Nifty ended higher for the third straight week, buoyed by gains in banking and heavyweight counters. Technically, the index faces an immediate hurdle near the 25,800 zone, which coincides with the upper band of an ascending broadening wedge pattern, Fibonacci clusters, and a supply zone. Sustaining above this level will be crucial for the index to maintain its upward momentum. A failure to breach this resistance could trigger profit-taking towards the 25,200–24,800 zone, while a breakout past 25,800 would open the way towards all-time high levels. Trading strategies for the weekThe FMCG index has witnessed a smart recovery from its longterm support zone, confirming renewed strength. Stocks like Hindustan Unilever, Colgate Palmolive, and Tata Consumer are displaying positive chart structures and can be considered for accumulation. Additionally, Oberoi Realty, SBI, Asian Paints, Bajaj Auto, and Alkem Lab are exhibiting strength and hold the potential to outperform. In contrast, media and IT sectors remain laggards, showing persistent weakness on the charts, and should be avoided for long exposure.AJIT MISHRA SVP-RESEARCH, RELIGARE BROKINGWhere is Nifty headed this week? As the index successfully surpassed its trendline resistance at 25,450 and the June high of 25,669, we are now eyeing the potential to retest of the record high i.e. 26,277, and inch further up. However, it may face immediate resistance near 26,000. On the downside, support is placed at 25,450, with a stronger base around 25,150. Trading strategies for the weekThe market enters the new week with an optimistic outlook. However, investors should stay vigilant to external risks. Participants may continue to adopt a buy-on-dips approach, with a focus on sectors demonstrating consistent earnings visibility— particularly banking, FMCG, and consumer durables. IT and export-oriented stocks may remain volatile amid global uncertainty. Within the broader market, preference should be given to fundamentally sound large and midcap stocks over smallcaps for long trades. Bullish On: Bharti Airtel, Hindustan Aeronautics, L&T, M&M, Marico, Phoenix Mills, Prestige Estate, Reliance, Tata Consumer Products, Titan, and TVS Motor Company. Bearish On: Bandhan Bank, Computer Age Management Services, Container Corporation of India, Indian Energy Exchange, Infosys, Indian Railway Finance Corp, and Rail Vikas Nigam.RAJESH PALVIYA HEAD OF TECHNICAL AND DERIVATIVES, AXIS SECURITIESWhere is Nifty headed this week? On the weekly chart, Nifty formed a long bullish candle with a higher-high and -low structure, closing above the previous week’s high, which indicates strength and positive momentum. The index has also broken above the medium-term downward-sloping trendline. With Nifty surpassing the June 2025 swing high, it suggests that the market is likely to witness a strong uptrend ahead, potentially moving towards the all-time high of 26,277. On the downside, the support zone is located between 25,500 and 25,300, with major support at 25,084 (20-day SMA). A sustained move above 25,800 could trigger buying interest towards levels of 26,000 to 26,250, while a break below 25,500 might lead to a decline towards 25,250 to 25,000. Trading strategies for the weekThe weekly RSI remains above its reference line, reinforcing the bullish sentiment. We recommend a buy-on-dips strategy as long as Nifty is trading above 25,400. One can focus on sectors such as banking, NBFC, automobile, capital goods, real estate, FMCG, and chemicals in the coming weeks. We may see upward momentum in stocks like Nestle India, Titan, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Auto, Godrej Properties, MCX, BSE, ICICI Bank, and SRF. Traders can initiate a moderately bullish strategy with reduced premium outflow and lower breakeven point called BULL CALL Spread of 28th October Expiry. In this net delta Long strategy, traders need to buy one lot of 25,700 call strike at Rs 206 and simultaneously sell one lot of 26,000 call strike at Rs 71 so that net outflow or maximum loss will be restricted to up to Rs 9,750. Nifty on expiry if it closes above 25,835, the strategy will start making a profit as it’s the break-even point for the strategy; however, as the risk is limited, so is the profit. The maximum gains will be restricted up to Rs 12,375, because the gains of a long 25,700 strike call will be offset by the sold 26,000 strike call if Nifty closes above 26,000 on expiry

It has been a roller-coaster ride for retail investors over the last year with returns led by gold, reaching as high as 68%; while equities, represented by the Nifty 50, returned a modest 5% on the back of geopolitical tensions, domestic rate cuts , and tariff tantrums. Given this background, ET spoke to wealth management experts where investors should allocate Rs 10 lakh in the coming year. 124697397 124697398 124697401

Indian equities offered modest returns of around 6% in Samvat 2081 after a record-breaking run in the previous year that culminated in a fresh all-time high in the last week of September 2024. Since then, the market has remained volatile as earnings faltered and high valuations triggered aggressive foreign outflows. 124697379The tumultuous nature of Trump tariffs exacerbated the uncertainty. However, domestic buying remained resilient. Since last Diwali, the Nifty gained 6.2%, while the Midcap index advanced 4.3%. The Smallcap index, however, declined 4%. As we enter Samvat 2082, market sentiment is expected to improve amid GST rationalisation, liquidity infusion by the RBI, and the government's impetus to manufacturing through policy reforms. While earnings are expected to improve, the market may offer modest returns, and a stock-specific approach is likely to be rewarded. Banking and financials, consumption, and other domestic-facing sectors are expected to offer good opportunities. RUCHITA SONAWANE collates top stocks recommended by brokers for the next 12 months.

US President Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Russia's terms for ending the war between Russia and Ukraine in a White House meeting on Friday, warning that President Vladimir Putin threatened to "destroy" Ukraine if it didn't comply, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.During the meeting, Trump insisted Zelenskyy surrender the entire eastern Donbas region to Russia, repeatedly echoing talking points the Russian president had made in their call a day earlier, the newspaper said, citing people familiar with the matter.Ukraine ultimately managed to swing Trump back to endorsing a freeze of the current front lines, the FT said. Trump said after the meeting that the two sides should stop the war at the battle line; Zelenskyy said that was an important point.The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the FT report.Zelenskyy arrived at the White House on Friday looking for weapons to keep fighting his country's war, but met an American president who appeared more intent on brokering a peace deal.In Thursday's call with Trump, Putin had offered some small areas of the two southern frontline regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in exchange for the much larger parts of the Donbas now under Ukrainian control, the FT report added.That is less than his original 2024 demand for Kyiv to cede the entirety of Donbas plus Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south, an area of nearly 20,000 square km.Zelenskyy's spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside business hours on whether Trump had pressured Zelenskyy to accept peace on Russia's terms.Trump and Putin agreed on Thursday to hold a second summit on the war in Ukraine within the next two weeks, provisionally in Budapest, following an August 15 meeting in Alaska that failed to produce a breakthrough.