WEEK AHEAD · MARKETS

Week Ahead: Markets & Macro — Earnings, Flows, Rotation

Banks and capital goods lead visibility; autos/pharma improve breadth; IT cools. Set rules now—don’t chase the gap.
By bataSutra Editorial · October 12, 2025
In this piece:
  • The short — five-line brief
  • Sector rotation map
  • Flows & positioning
  • Risk controls & exit rules
  • Indicative calendar

The short

  • Leadership: Banks, capital goods; orderbooks + asset quality still drive relative strength.
  • Improving: Autos, pharma, power broaden participation; watch inventory and US pricing pressure.
  • Cooling: IT midcaps on lumpy deal ramps; stick to cost-takeout leaders.
  • Microcaps: Avoid low-float euphoria near events; size by liquidity.
  • Macro: FX-range and mid-60s crude imply stable retail fuel bands into early week (directional).

Rotation map (illustrative)

SectorStatusDriverRisk flagPositioning cue
BanksLeaderCredit growth, asset qualityDeposit beta creepFavor OCF/EBITDA > 0.8; lower wholesale mix
Capital GoodsLeaderBacklogs, executionInput costsDiverse orderbooks; avoid single-client risk
AutosImprovingFestive channel buildsInventory > 6 weeksTrim on sustained discounting
PharmaImprovingUS launches + India mixUS price erosionPrefer steady gross margins + ANDA pipeline
ITCoolingDelayed rampsUS macro scareStick to deal/TCO proof; avoid premium without TCV
PowerImprovingDemand + tariff clarityFuel linkagesBlend regulated + merchant exposures

Flows & positioning

  • Domestic: Systematic savings continue to cushion dips; breadth favors quality balance sheets.
  • Foreign: Selective participation in financials/infra; sentiment sensitive to global prints.
  • SME: Oversub remains high but day-2 quality tracks float and market-maker design—avoid crowded names.

Risk controls & exit rules

Stops & trims

  • Leader underperforms Nifty by 5–7% over 4 weeks or net revisions turn negative → trim.
  • Two failed breakouts with rising supply → step down position size by 25–40%.

Liquidity & leverage

  • Avoid high-beta microcaps into events; size by ADTV × 10 rule of thumb.
  • Financed HNI flows: monitor unwind pressure around T+1/T+2.

Indicative calendar (Oct 13–17)

  • Mon–Tue: Earnings cluster kicks off in banks/cap goods; watch order-to-revenue conversion commentary.
  • Mid-week: Periodic retail fuel/ATF check-ins; INR and crude still the big dials.
  • Thu–Fri: Price-band and allotment updates often drop late afternoon; manage gap risk for smallcaps.