Stock market recommendations: According to Bajaj Broking Research, UPL and Varun Beverages are the highest inventory picks for right now. Here’s its view on Nifty, Bank Nifty and the highest inventory picks for July 18, 2025:Index View: NIFTYEquity benchmark indices traded sideways inside a good vary, mirroring muted investor sentiment amid elevated uncertainty across the India-US commerce dialogue and the onset of the Q1 FY26 earnings season. Market motion remained largely inventory-particular as individuals adopted a wait-and-watch strategy, looking for larger readability on macroeconomic developments and company earnings visibility.Notably, the index has taken 12 classes to retrace merely 50% of the previous 11-session uptrend (from 24,473 to 25,669), reflecting a shallow pullback and signaling a wholesome consolidation. This value motion underscores a structurally constructive setup, with the formation of a better base across the psychological and technical help zone of 25,000, reinforcing the bullish undertone.Over the previous two classes, the index has posted close to-an identical intraday highs across the 25,255 marks, coinciding with the 20-day EMA—making a vital confluence zone. A decisive breakout above this degree may act as a set off for the following leg of the uptrend, with potential upside towards the 25,600 zone within the coming weeks. Conversely, lack of ability to convincingly surpass the 25,255 hurdles could end in continued consolidation throughout the 25,000–25,250 band. Amid this setup, intermittent volatility can’t be dominated out, given the overlapping headwinds from the Q1 FY26 earnings season and chronic ambiguity round India–US tariff negotiations.From a structural standpoint, the index continues to kind increased highs and better lows—demonstrating resilience within the face of geopolitical noise and coverage uncertainty. Additionally, enhancing market internals add conviction to the bullish narrative, with 67% of Nifty 500 constituents now buying and selling above their 200-day SMA—up considerably from 52% final month—signaling broad-based mostly participation and lending credibility to the sustainability of the continuing structural uptrend.Nifty has sturdy help between 24,900-25,100 ranges which we count on to maintain being the confluence of (a) the rising 50 days EMA (b) rising trendline help becoming a member of lows of May and June 2025 (c) 61.8% retracement of the earlier up transfer (24473-25669) (d) the higher band of the current breakout space positioned round 25000 ranges.NIFTY BANKBank Nifty traded inside a slender consolidation band final week, reflecting subdued investor sentiment amid heightened uncertainty surrounding the India-US commerce negotiations and forward of the Q1 FY26 earnings season of the banking stocks.The index continues to commerce above its 20-day EMA degree it has persistently revered since April—signaling that the underlying bullish development stays firmly intact. This, mixed with enhancing market breadth, reinforces the upper excessive–increased low-value construction, suggesting a nicely-entrenched uptrend. The setup paves the way in which for a possible transfer in direction of the 58,500 zone within the upcoming weeks.The index on anticipated traces within the final 10 classes is seen consolidating within the vary 56,500-57,600. We count on the index to prolong the identical, and solely a transfer past this vary will sign the following directional transfer within the index.Key quick-time period time period help is positioned at 56,000–55,500 area, representing a confluence of the 50-day EMA and the important thing retracement degree. The broader development stays constructive, and the present consolidation needs to be seen as shopping for alternatives.Stock Recommendations:UPLBuy within the vary of Rs 680.00-696.00
Varun BeveragesBuy within the vary of Rs 480-492
(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the inventory market and different asset courses given by consultants are their very own. These opinions don’t characterize the views of The Times of India)