Top stocks to buy (AI image)

Stock market recommendations: According to Sudeep Shah, Head - Technical Research and Derivatives, SBI Securities, the top stock picks for this week are Karur Vysya Bank, and Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation. Here’s his view on Nifty, Bank Nifty for the week starting December 29, 2025:Nifty ViewDuring the past week, the holiday-led slowdown was distinctly visible on Dalal Street, with the Nifty index moving in a remarkably narrow range of just 227 points—its tightest weekly band since November 2023.

The index touched a high of 26236 before experiencing a mild throwback, yet still managed to end the week with a modest 0.29% gain. On the weekly chart, Nifty formed a Gravestone Doji, signalling hesitation at higher levels and reflecting muted participation amid the festive mood.A key development during the week was the India VIX slipping to its lowest-ever weekly close, highlighting a significant compression in volatility and a growing sense of calm across the market.

Historically, such extended low-volatility phases have often preceded powerful directional moves, making the current quietness more meaningful than it appears. While the frontline indices stayed largely range-bound, the broader market remained the outperformer. The Nifty Smallcap 100 staged a robust pullback rally, driven by strong recoveries in several previously pressured small-cap names. Additionally, thematic pockets such as Railways, CPSE, and PSE stocks recorded notable rebounds, indicating that investor interest is gradually rotating beyond the headline indices.

Looking ahead, the 26200–26250 zone is likely to act as a key resistance band for Nifty. A sustained breakout above 26250 could open the doors for an upward move toward 26500, followed by 26650 in the near term. On the downside, the 25900–25850 region is expected to provide strong support.Bank Nifty ViewLast week, the Bank Nifty index moved within an unusually tight range of 531 points, registering its narrowest weekly movement since late August 2024.

On the weekly timeframe, it formed a small-bodied candle, signalling clear indecision and indicating that neither bulls nor bears were willing to take strong control of the trend.The index has now been consolidating for several sessions, and this extended sideways phase has begun to influence the short-term trend setup. The 20day and 50day EMAs have started to flatten out, suggesting a loss of momentum over the near term.

At the same time, the daily RSI has been trapped in a sideways trajectory for 13 consecutive sessions, underscoring the persistent trend fatigue and rangebound nature of the current move.Looking ahead, the 58700–58600 zone is likely to act as a crucial support base for the index. On the higher side, the 59400–59500 region remains an important resistance that Bank Nifty needs to decisively break to revive upward traction.