Sumeet Bagadia, senior equity strategist at Livemint, has flagged a likely continuation of a sideways‑to‑bearish bias for the Nifty 50 on Monday. He points to immediate support around 22,900–23,000 and a resistance zone at 23,300–23,370, suggesting that any break below the lower band could trigger a sharper pullback. In line with this outlook, Bagadia recommends three stocks that he believes can offer upside potential despite the broader market headwinds. Mahindra & Mahindra, a leading automotive and agribusiness conglomerate, is expected to benefit from a rebound in domestic demand and a favourable macro backdrop.
Asian Paints, the country’s largest paint maker, is highlighted for its resilient margins and strong distribution network, while HCL Technologies is praised for its growing cloud and AI services portfolio, which could drive future earnings. The market has been volatile this week, with global risk sentiment tightening after recent policy hints from the US Federal Reserve. The Nifty’s recent rally stalled, and traders are watching the 22,900 level closely as a potential turning point. A breach could prompt a sell‑off in mid‑cap and large‑cap stocks, whereas a bounce back could lift the index toward its 23,300 ceiling.
For retail investors, Bagadia’s commentary underscores the importance of setting tight stop‑losses near the 22,900 support and staying selective with high‑quality names that can weather short‑term volatility. Diversifying across sectors and keeping an eye on macro triggers will be key to navigating the current market environment.