Infosys Cuts Guidance, Brent Hits $116 and Nifty Slips Into the Red for October. What Now?

Dailyfinancial.in Market Desk | Monday, 26 October 2026 | Closing data as of market close, 23 October 2026, with pre-open cues for 26 October

For the first time this month, the Nifty 50 is in the red for October. It closed at 22,600 on Friday, 23 October 2026, a hair below the 22,620.45 level where September ended, after a fourth straight losing session.

Over that weekend, Infosys cut its FY27 revenue guidance, Jio Platforms’ record IPO drew 22.19 times subscription, and Brent crude settled at $116.72, its highest in about six months. On Monday morning, GIFT Nifty hints at a flat-to-weak start. This briefing on the stock market today, 26 October 2026, covers verified BSE Sensex, NSE Nifty 50 and Nifty Bank data, the macro drivers, Nifty levels, global cues, 16 stock screens, sector performance India 2026, gainers and losers, stock ideas and three model portfolios.

Indian Market Overview: Why Did Midcaps Crash 2.2% While the Sensex Lost Just 0.17%?

Friday’s headline numbers hid a brutal broad-market sell-off. Large caps held up, while the Nifty Midcap 100 dropped 2.21% and the Smallcap 100 tumbled 2.94%, Upstox reported, as Brent crossed $114 on Middle East tensions.

Breadth was crushing. Only 425 stocks rose against 2,408 decliners out of 2,871 traded, according to Trendlyne, and 119 stocks closed below their previous 52-week lows. Within the Nifty 50, 14 stocks advanced and 36 declined.

Institutional flows were the bright spot. FIIs turned net buyers of ₹888 crore and DIIs bought ₹3,235 crore on 23 October, per Quantsapp provisional data, a combined inflow of about ₹4,123 crore that helped the Nifty recover 228 points from its intraday low.

Vinod Nair, head of research at Geojit Investments, pointed to the sharp midcap and smallcap correction, unwinding of leveraged positions and high crude prices, adding that rising India VIX signals persistent near-term volatility, Business Standard reported. The blog’s reading is that this is a broad-market valuation reset, with large caps acting as a shelter.

Key Economic Drivers: How Long Can India’s Macro Story Absorb $116 Oil?

Crude is now the dominant macro variable, overshadowing strong growth data. Here is how India GDP growth, inflation trends, RBI repo rates and employment line up as of 26 October 2026.

India GDP Growth: Will the Q2 Number on 30 November Confirm the Slowdown?

India’s real GDP grew 7.8% in Q1 FY27 (April to June 2026), MoSPI data shows, with manufacturing up 9.2% and gross fixed capital formation up 11.9%. The RBI’s FY27 forecast stands at 7.1%.

Q2 corporate results point to a mixed picture: CG Power’s profit rose 43.7% and Jindal Stainless’ 10.9%, per Trendlyne, while consumer names such as Colgate and Godrej Properties disappointed. Q2 FY27 GDP data is due on 30 November 2026.

What this means for markets: Capex-linked companies are still delivering, so capital goods and engineering names remain the growth pocket even as consumption slows.

CPI Inflation Trend: Is $116 Oil Setting Up a Higher October Print?

CPI inflation for September 2026 was 5.54%, up from 4.83% in August, with food inflation at 7.74%, according to MoSPI. Wholesale inflation for September jumped to 11.39% from 9.92%.

Brent’s climb from about $104 in mid-October to $116.72 on 23 October raises the risk of a higher October CPI, which will be released on 12 November.

What this means for markets: Higher inflation keeps pressure on consumer staples and rate-sensitive sectors; FMCG fell 0.99% and realty 2.38% on Friday.

RBI Repo Rate: Is a Second Hike Now More Likely?

The RBI raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% at its 5 to 7 October 2026 meeting, the first hike since February 2023, with a stance of calibrated tightening. The Standing Deposit Facility is at 5.25%, and the MSF and Bank Rate are at 5.75%.

With CPI above the repo rate and crude rising, the blog’s view is that markets are pricing a meaningful chance of another increase at the next policy review.

What this means for markets: Banks may see margin support, but NBFCs and capital market stocks, which fell sharply on Friday, face higher funding costs.

PLFS Unemployment: Can Jobs Hold Up as Costs Rise?

The PLFS bulletin for September 2026 showed India’s unemployment rate steady at 5.0%, with rural unemployment at 4.2% and urban at 6.9%. Labour force participation was 55.5%, while urban female participation rose to 25.9%, DD India reported.

What this means for markets: A flat jobs market alongside rising fuel costs squeezes household budgets, a risk for discretionary sectors such as consumer durables, which fell 2.63% on Friday.

Nifty Today: Is 22,372 the Line That Decides This Correction?

Friday’s session saw a 415-point swing, with buyers rescuing the index from a deep intraday dip. Here is the point-by-point breakdown, as of market close, 23 October 2026, with cues for 26 October.

• Open: 22,742.20, above Thursday’s close of 22,687.65.
• High: 22,787.25, where early buying faded.
• Low: 22,372.00, a 1.4% intraday fall.
• Close: 22,600.00, down 87.65 points or 0.39%, after recovering 228 points from the low.
• Distance from 2026 low: About 1.9% above the 8 October intraday low of 22,179.90.
• Support levels: 22,500 (LKP Securities), 22,372 (Friday’s low), then 22,200 to 22,222 (LKP Securities and 5paisa).
• Resistance levels: 22,700 to 22,800 (LKP Securities), then 22,840 and 22,850 near the 20-day EMA (5paisa and Goodreturns).
• Classic pivot for 26 October: Pivot 22,586.42, R1 22,800.83, R2 23,001.67, S1 22,385.58, S2 22,171.17 (blog’s calculation from the 23 October high, low and close).
• Put-Call Ratio: 0.74 at 4:45 pm on 23 October for the 27 October expiry (Quantsapp), slightly up from 0.70 on 21 October.
• Maximum Call OI: 24,000 strike with 1.96 crore contracts; Maximum Put OI: 21,500 strike with 1.35 crore contracts (Quantsapp). Max pain stood at 22,700.
• Candlestick pattern: A bearish candle with a long lower shadow, closing in the middle of its range after a sharp intraday recovery, suggesting buyers are active near 22,372.
• Trend verdict: Bearish. LKP Securities noted the Nifty broke below its weekly 200-WMA and daily 20-DMA, and 5paisa put the daily RSI at 42.38.
• Outlook for the next session: With October monthly expiry on 27 October, expect volatility. Holding 22,386 (S1) keeps a bounce toward 22,800 possible, while a close below 22,372 would open 22,171.

BSE Sensex vs Nifty 50 Trend in October 2026: Has the Month’s Entire Gain Vanished?

September 2026 has closed, so this table covers every October session so far against the 30 September closes of 72,480.29 for the Sensex and 22,620.45 for the Nifty.

The Nifty has now erased its entire October gain and sits 0.09% lower for the month, while the Sensex still holds a 0.89% gain thanks to its heavier weight in resilient large caps. For the week to 23 October, the Sensex fell 2.15% and the Nifty 2.36%.

Since its 16 October peak, the Nifty has dropped four straight sessions. The blog’s view is that the month-end expiry on 27 October and Infosys’ reaction today will decide whether October closes green or red.

Latest Market News Highlights: What Are the 8 Stories Driving Monday’s Trade?

From Infosys’ guidance cut to a record IPO and a crude spike, here is the latest market news for 26 October 2026, with the immediate impact and the stocks affected.

• Infosys trims FY27 guidance. Infosys reported Q2 FY27 net profit of ₹7,823 crore, up 6% year on year, on revenue of ₹49,244 crore, up about 11%, but cut its constant-currency revenue growth guidance to 1% to 2% from 1.5% to 3%, Multibagg reported. It declared a ₹26 interim dividend with a record date of 3 November. Impact: IT sentiment and the Infosys stock in focus today.
• Jio Platforms IPO subscribed 22.19 times. QIBs bid 70.55 times their quota, NIIs 14 times and retail 2.72 times, per Upstox, with over 1 crore applications, Kotak Neo reported. Allotment is due on 26 October and listing on 28 October. Impact: refunds may return liquidity to secondary markets.
• Brent crude at a six-month high. Brent settled 3.14% higher at $116.72 on 23 October on Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and US-Iran tensions, and traded at $115.1 early on 26 October, Business Standard reported. Impact: pressure on OMCs, aviation, paints and the rupee.
• Swiggy crashes to a 52-week low. Swiggy fell 16.8% to ₹176 after reporting a Q2 net loss of ₹922 crore despite 38.5% revenue growth, per Trendlyne. Rival Eternal rose 4.25% to ₹317.40, the top Nifty gainer.
• Midcap carnage hits capital markets. Motilal Oswal Financial fell 5.24%, 360 ONE WAM 4.94% and Nippon Life AMC 4.94%, while J&K Bank sank about 16% despite a 10.6% profit rise. Impact: high-beta financials face de-leveraging.
• Strong numbers from CG Power, Steel Strips Wheels and Cyient. CG Power’s profit rose 43.7%, Steel Strips Wheels’ jumped 3.3 times, and Cyient’s rose 16.6% sequentially, per Trendlyne. Steel Strips hit the 20% upper circuit, and Cyient rose 7.2% to a 52-week high.
• HPCL cuts borrowing costs. HPCL refinanced about ₹50,000 crore of Rajasthan refinery debt, cutting costs by nearly 105 basis points and targeting annual interest savings of about ₹1,000 crore, Kotak Neo reported, even as its Q2 profit fell 6.1%.
• Busy results day today. Mankind Pharma, REC, Paytm, Tata Consumer Products, Ather Energy and ITC Hotels report on 26 October, while the ₹1,200 crore EAAA India Alternatives IPO opens for bidding, per Business Standard.

Global Cues: Will a 1.2% Dow Fall and $116 Oil Weigh on Dalal Street?

Friday ended a rough week for global equities, with the Dow down 652.82 points as the tech sell-off spread to other sectors and oil surged. Asia showed some resilience, with China and Korea edging higher.

How each cue is influencing Indian markets:

• Wall Street: The Dow’s 1.23% drop shows the sell-off spreading beyond tech into consumer and healthcare names, a negative cue for global risk appetite.
• US yields: The 10-year Treasury yield near 5% leaves a gap of about 2.4 percentage points over India’s 10-year yield of about 7.40%, which limits foreign appetite for Indian assets.
• Asia: Gains in Shanghai (+0.89%) and Hong Kong (+0.69%) on Friday offered some balance, but Monday’s early losses in Japan and Korea point to a cautious open.
• Europe: Mild declines in the FTSE, DAX and CAC reflect the global oil shock, with Germany’s DAX hit hardest at minus 0.86%.
• Brent crude: At $116.72, oil is the single biggest risk for India, feeding inflation, widening the trade deficit and pressuring the rupee.
• Dollar and rupee: A firmer dollar index at 101.79 and the rupee near 95 per dollar add to imported inflation and reduce dollar returns for FIIs.
• Gold: Gold’s fall to about $4,008 alongside rising yields suggests investors are raising cash, not seeking havens.
• Tech stabilisation: The Nasdaq’s modest 0.21% fall and a 0.44% gain in the chip index, per TradingKey, reduce pressure on Indian IT ahead of Infosys’ results reaction.

Performance Overview: Which Top NSE/BSE Stocks Passed Our 16 Screens in a Brutal Week?

Each screen uses verified prices and metrics with a stated date and source. Where exchanges do not publish an indicator, such as RSI, we use and disclose a verifiable substitute so every column carries real data.

Daily Fresh Breakouts: Which Stocks Defied the Sell-Off on 23 October?

Screening criteria: Stocks that rose more than 4% on 23 October on results or strong volume, per Trendlyne, Multibagg and Angel One.

Weekly Breakouts: Who Gained While the Nifty Fell 2.4% This Week?

Screening criteria: Stocks with gains over recent multi-session windows (stated in each row) during a week when the Nifty fell 2.36%, calculated by the blog from exchange closing prices.

Oversold Stocks: Which Names Have Fallen Furthest, Fastest?

Screening criteria: RSI is proprietary to charting platforms, so this screen uses verifiable proxies: single-day falls above 5% or multi-session declines above 4%, conditions that typically push short-term RSI toward oversold levels.

Stocks Nearing Breakout: Which Leaders Are Close to Key Levels?

Screening criteria: Stocks within 4% of their 52-week high or a major round number, with the gap calculated by the blog.

Short-Term Buys: Which Setups Fit a 2 to 4 Week Window?

Screening criteria: Blog’s own analysis: relative strength during Friday’s broad sell-off, a clear catalyst and a definable stop loss.

FII Holding Changes: Where Have Foreign Investors Been Adding?

Screening criteria: Companies with rising FII shareholding through the September 2026 quarter, per Equitymaster’s 8 October review. Stake columns replace price because the stake change is the signal.

DII Holding Changes: How Much Have Domestic Institutions Bought in October?

Screening criteria: Stock-level DII filings for the September 2026 quarter are still arriving, so this table tracks verified daily DII flows from provisional data compiled by Quantsapp.

Friday was the third FII buying day of October, and both groups were net buyers despite a 2.21% midcap crash. DIIs have now bought ₹59,110 crore this month, outpacing FII selling by ₹7,644 crore.

Upcoming Dividends: Which Record Dates Should You Track?

Screening criteria: Declared dividends with record dates from 26 October to 3 November 2026, compiled from company announcements reported by the Anand Rathi tracker and Multibagg.

Only two verified record dates fall in this window. Steel Strips Wheels also declared a ₹1.50 interim dividend with its Q2 results on 23 October, per Multibagg, and Infosys investors must hold shares by the 3 November record date to receive ₹26.

Long-Term Buys: Which Blue-Chip Stock Picks Can Weather the Oil Storm?

Screening criteria: Blog’s own analysis: market leadership, strong balance sheets, visible earnings growth and a meaningful correction from recent highs.

High Dividend Yield Stocks: Where Can Income Investors Earn 4% to 6%?

Screening criteria: Highest yields among quality companies with ROE above 20%, per Angel One screener data as of 28 September 2026.

Fundamentally Strong Stocks: Which Balance Sheets Can Handle Higher Costs?

Screening criteria: ROE above 20%, debt-to-equity at or below 0.12 and recent profit growth, per Angel One and company filings (September to October 2026).

Low Debt Mid Caps: Which Mid-Sized Firms Can Ride Out a Midcap Crash?

Screening criteria: Market capitalisation roughly ₹20,000 crore to ₹65,000 crore with debt-to-equity at or below 0.04 (Sahi screener, 5 August 2026; Angel One, 28 September 2026), plus Shyam Metalics for internally funded growth.

Cash-Rich Small Caps: Which Smaller Names Have Clean Balance Sheets?

Screening criteria: Small caps described as debt-free or virtually debt-free by Angel One (29 September 2026), Equitymaster (8 October 2026) or recent reports, with the latest verified price.

Volume Shockers: Where Did Panic and Buying Collide on 23 October?

Screening criteria: Stocks with exceptional traded volumes on 23 October relative to their usual activity, per Trendlyne (closing prices) and Multibagg (volumes).

52-Week Highs: Which Stocks Hit Yearly Peaks on a Day 119 Stocks Hit Lows?

Screening criteria: Stocks that hit a fresh 52-week high or traded within 4% of it on 23 October, per Trendlyne and Multibagg.

52-Week Lows: Which Stocks Broke Down to Fresh Yearly Lows?

Screening criteria: Stocks that hit a fresh 52-week low on 23 October or traded within 2% of it, per Trendlyne and Multibagg; distances calculated by the blog.

Sector Performance India 2026: Why Did Metal and Realty Crash While IT Held Firm?

Every NSE sectoral index closed lower on 23 October, Business Standard reported. The table ranks Friday’s moves, according to Liquide and Upstox, alongside the latest earnings driver for each sector.

IT and auto were the most resilient sectors, while metal, consumer durables and realty led the losses, hit by global growth fears and rate worries. PSU banks were among the biggest laggards too, according to Goodreturns.

The blog’s view is that large-cap IT, healthcare and select private banks offer relative safety while crude stays above $110, and that metal and realty need a clear crude reversal before a sustained recovery.

Top 10 Gainers and Top 10 Losers: Who Won and Lost the Nifty 50 Battle?

Only 14 Nifty 50 stocks rose on 23 October. The tables below list stocks with verified closing prices from Angel One and Liquide.

Asian Paints (+0.97%) and TCS (+0.92%) completed the top five Nifty gainers, per Upstox, while Pidilite, L&T and Reliance also traded higher in Multibagg’s large-cap data.

Jio Financial Services (-2.74%) and Tata Steel (-2.70%) rounded out the five biggest Nifty losers, per Upstox. In total, 36 of the 50 constituents closed lower.

Stock Recommendations for Today: Which 6 Setups Stand Out After a Four-Day Fall?

These are the blog’s own technical and fundamental ideas based on the latest verified closing prices, dated in each case. With monthly expiry on 27 October and Brent above $115, keep position sizes modest.

Eternal: Can It Keep Winning While Swiggy Stumbles?

• CMP: ₹317.40 (23 Oct)
• Trigger: 4.25% gain on 6.11 crore shares; 0.81% below ₹320
• Entry range: ₹310 to ₹318
• Target: ₹340 (about 8.3% upside from ₹314)
• Stop loss: ₹300 (about 4.5% risk)
• Time frame: 3 to 6 weeks
• Rationale: Market-share gains as Swiggy posts a ₹922 crore loss
• Key risk: Quick-commerce competition and cash burn

Apollo Hospitals: Is Healthcare the Safest Harbour Right Now?

• CMP: ₹7,730.00 (23 Oct)
• Trigger: Rose 1.65% on a day 36 Nifty stocks fell
• Entry range: ₹7,650 to ₹7,740
• Target: ₹8,200 (about 6.5% upside from ₹7,700)
• Stop loss: ₹7,450 (about 3.2% risk)
• Time frame: 4 to 8 weeks
• Rationale: Defensive demand and low crude sensitivity
• Key risk: Valuation risk in a market-wide sell-off

Cyient: Will the 52-Week High Breakout Hold?

• CMP: ₹1,225.80 (23 Oct)
• Trigger: 7.2% jump to a 52-week high on results
• Entry range: ₹1,200 to ₹1,230
• Target: ₹1,320 (about 8.6% upside from ₹1,215)
• Stop loss: ₹1,160 (about 4.5% risk)
• Time frame: 3 to 5 weeks
• Rationale: Profit up 16.6% QoQ, revenue up 7.7%
• Key risk: Engineering services demand tied to global tech spending

HDFC Bank: Is ₹692 an Attractive Entry for the Market Leader?

• CMP: ₹692.80 (23 Oct)
• Trigger: Down 4.7% from its 15 Oct close
• Entry range: ₹685 to ₹695
• Target: ₹740 (about 7.2% upside from ₹690)
• Stop loss: ₹668 (about 3.2% risk)
• Time frame: 4 to 8 weeks
• Rationale: NII up 9.7% and steady asset quality
• Key risk: Deposit competition and slower profit growth of 4.66%

ONGC: Can $116 Oil Fuel Another Leg Higher?

• CMP: ₹227.50 (23 Oct)
• Trigger: Gained while energy index fell 1.66%
• Entry range: ₹224 to ₹228
• Target: ₹242 (about 7.1% upside from ₹226)
• Stop loss: ₹218 (about 3.5% risk)
• Time frame: 2 to 4 weeks
• Rationale: Upstream producers benefit directly from higher crude
• Key risk: Windfall tax or a sudden crude reversal

UltraTech Cement: Is ₹11,000 the Next Milestone?

• CMP: ₹10,958.00 (22 Oct)
• Trigger: 0.38% below ₹11,000
• Entry range: ₹10,850 to ₹10,960
• Target: ₹11,600 (about 6.4% upside from ₹10,900)
• Stop loss: ₹10,580 (about 2.9% risk)
• Time frame: 4 to 8 weeks
• Rationale: Profit up 21.29% and revenue up 18.81%
• Key risk: Fuel cost inflation from crude

Portfolio Suggestions by Risk Appetite: How Should You Rebalance After the Midcap Crash?

Each model portfolio is the blog’s own illustrative allocation, tilted toward large caps and oil-light sectors, built from stocks with verified recent earnings or balance-sheet data. Adjust weights to your goals and time horizon.

Conservative Portfolio: How Can You Sleep Well With Volatility at 16.86?

• Pros: Large-cap leaders, steady dividends and a 20% cash buffer.
• Cons: Limited upside if the market rebounds sharply; IT guidance cuts are a risk.

Moderate Portfolio: How Do You Balance Defence With Growth?

• Pros: Diversified with a natural oil hedge through ONGC.
• Cons: Eternal and HCLTech carry higher volatility; ONGC reverses if crude falls.

Aggressive Portfolio: Where Are the Best Growth Bets After the Shake-Out?

• Pros: Exposure to the season’s biggest earnings beats at corrected prices.
• Cons: Smallcap 100 fell 2.94% on Friday; liquidity and drawdown risk are high.

Final Thought: Is This the Capitulation the Market Needs, or Just the Beginning?

The Nifty’s recovery of 228 points from Friday’s low, on a day both FIIs and DIIs were buyers, shows large caps are attracting money even as small caps are being dumped. The question for this week is whether that support survives Infosys’ guidance cut and $116 oil.

Three insights stand out. First, the Nifty has erased its entire October gain, yet DIIs have bought ₹59,110 crore this month, ₹7,644 crore more than FIIs sold. Second, 119 stocks closed below their prior 52-week lows on Friday while only a handful, such as Cyient and Steel Strips Wheels, hit fresh highs, a sharp sign of polarisation. Third, India VIX has risen to 16.86, its highest close this month, just ahead of the 27 October monthly expiry.

For the session ahead, watch the Infosys reaction, results from Tata Consumer, REC and Paytm, Jio Platforms allotment, Brent near $115 and whether the Nifty holds 22,372. A close above 22,801 would signal a relief rally, while a break below 22,372 would open 22,171.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Share Market Today

Why did the Sensex fall for a fourth straight day on 23 October 2026?

The Sensex slipped 125.56 points to 73,123.83 as Brent crude climbed above $114 on Middle East tensions. Metal, realty and consumer durables led losses, while midcaps fell 2.21% and small caps 2.94% on valuation worries and unwinding of leveraged positions, according to Geojit’s Vinod Nair.

How will the market open on 26 October 2026?

GIFT Nifty was at 22,601.5, down 6.5 points, early on 26 October, pointing to a flat-to-weak start, according to Business Standard. Brent traded near $115, and Japan and Korea opened lower. Support sits at 22,372 and resistance at 22,801 based on pivot levels.

What were Infosys Q2 FY27 results?

Infosys reported Q2 FY27 net profit of ₹7,823 crore, up 6% year on year, and revenue of ₹49,244 crore, up about 11%. It cut FY27 constant-currency revenue growth guidance to 1% to 2% from 1.5% to 3% and declared a ₹26 interim dividend with a 3 November record date.

How many times was the Jio Platforms IPO subscribed?

The Jio Platforms IPO was subscribed 22.19 times overall by the close on 23 October, per Upstox. Qualified institutional buyers bid 70.55 times their quota, non-institutional investors 14 times and retail investors 2.72 times. Allotment is due on 26 October and listing on 28 October.

Why did Swiggy shares crash on 23 October 2026?

Swiggy fell 16.8% to ₹176, a 52-week low, after reporting a Q2 FY27 net loss of ₹922 crore despite 38.5% revenue growth to ₹7,783 crore, according to Trendlyne. Investors worried about quick-commerce losses and competition, while rival Eternal rose 4.25%.

What is the RBI repo rate now?

The RBI repo rate is 5.50% after a 25 basis point hike at the 5 to 7 October 2026 policy meeting, the first increase since February 2023. The stance is calibrated tightening, with the Standing Deposit Facility at 5.25% and the MSF and Bank Rate at 5.75%.

Is Nifty negative for October 2026?

Yes. After the 23 October close at 22,600, the Nifty is down 0.09% for October from its 30 September close of 22,620.45. The Sensex is still up 0.89% for the month because large caps such as ICICI Bank and the IT majors have held up better.

What are the Nifty support and resistance levels for today?

For 26 October, the classic pivot is 22,586.42, with resistance at 22,800.83 and 23,001.67 and support at 22,385.58 and 22,171.17. LKP Securities sees immediate support at 22,500 and crucial support at 22,200, with resistance at 22,700 to 22,800, while options data shows the largest put base at 21,500.

Are FIIs buying or selling Indian stocks now?

FIIs bought ₹888 crore on 23 October, their third buying day of October, but remain net sellers of ₹51,466 crore for the month, per Quantsapp provisional data. DIIs have bought ₹59,110 crore in October, keeping combined flows positive at about ₹7,644 crore.

Should I buy stocks after this four-day fall?

The Nifty is about 1.9% above its 2026 low and large caps are attracting institutional buying, but high crude prices, rising VIX and the midcap sell-off are real risks. Staggered buying in quality large caps suits most investors. Consult a SEBI-registered adviser for personal advice.