Stock Market Today: Jay Thakkar Picks 3 F&O Stocks to Watch – Cipla, Bajaj Finserv in Focus

Stock Market Today: Jay Thakkar Picks 3 F&O Stocks to Watch – Cipla, Bajaj Finserv in Focus

Markets Extend Decline for Second Day Amid Global Uncertainty

The Indian stock market ended sharply lower on Friday, with the Sensex plunging 721 points and the Nifty 50 slipping 225 points, both settling at monthly lows. This marks the second consecutive day of losses, driven by heavy selling in financials, IT, and oil & gas stocks, along with persistent foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows.

The BSE Sensex closed at 81,463.09, down 0.88%, while the Nifty 50 ended at 24,837, shedding 0.90%. Intraday, the Sensex dropped nearly 786 points, hitting a low of 81,397.69.

Key Market Drivers

• FII selling continues amid global uncertainty.

• Weak cues from Asian and European markets added to bearish sentiment.

• Investors are closely watching Q1 FY26 earnings, especially commentary on margins and sector-specific growth.

• US–India trade deal prospects remain a positive trigger, but concerns around Trump-era tariffs continue to weigh on risk appetite.

Jay Thakkar’s Short-Term Trading Picks in the F&O Segment

Jay Thakkar, Vice President & Head of Derivatives and Quantitative Research at ICICI Securities, shared his expert insights on the current market setup and revealed three top F&O stocks for short-term trading.

Market View: Nifty & Bank Nifty Technical Outlook

According to Thakkar:

• Nifty 50 has broken below its recent range, signaling a negative short-term trend.

• The index is now struggling to hold above the 25,000 level, a critical resistance.

• Bank Nifty is consolidating between 56,000–57,000 and hasn’t yet shown a breakout.

• Volatility Index (IV) for both Nifty and Bank Nifty is gradually rising, pointing to increased short-term volatility.

“Until Nifty reclaims the 25,000 mark and Bank Nifty crosses 57,000, the short-term trend will likely remain negative,” says Thakkar.

Top 2 Stocks to Buy or Sell in F&O – Jay Thakkar’s Picks

Here are Thakkar’s top short-term trading ideas in the Futures & Options (F&O) segment:

1. Cipla – Buy Recommendation

• Sector: Pharma

• Rationale: Strong support at lower levels and resilient chart setup.

• Strategy: Accumulate with a short-term view; ideal for defensive positioning amid market volatility.

2. Bajaj Finserv – Sell Recommendation

• Sector: Financials

• Rationale: Technical breakdown and weak sector momentum.

• Strategy: Short in F&O with tight stop loss; ride the downward trend in financials.

What to Watch Ahead

• Major Q1 FY26 earnings next week could drive market direction.

• FII activity and global cues remain critical.

• Progress on the India–US trade deal could offer some relief to investors.

Conclusion

While the broader markets face short-term pressure, savvy traders can find opportunities in select F&O counters. By tracking key levels in Nifty and Bank Nifty and acting on expert recommendations like those from Jay Thakkar, traders can navigate the volatility with a strategy-first approach.