Business
Stocks to buy this week: What’s the outlook for Nifty? Check list of top stock recommendations – Times of India

Stock market recommendations: According to Sudeep Shah, Head – Technical Research and Derivatives, SBI Securities, Uno Minda Ltd, and HDFC Life are the top stock picks for this week. Here’s his view on Nifty, Bank Nifty for the week starting August 18, 2025:
Nifty View
The benchmark index Nifty finally snapped its six-week losing streak, closing the week with a healthy gain of 1.10% and reclaiming the 24600 mark. This rebound has brought some relief to market participants after a prolonged phase of weakness. However, the momentum appears to have tapered off in the last two trading sessions, with the index confined to a tight range and forming small-bodied candles — a sign of consolidation after the recent minor pullback.Currently, the Nifty continues to trade below its 20-day and 50-day EMA, with both moving averages trending downward — reflecting the underlying weakness in the medium-term structure. On the momentum front, the daily RSI remains in a sideways zone as per the RSI range shift framework, indicating a lack of clear directional bias. Meanwhile, the MACD histogram continues to hover below both its zero line and signal line, keeping the overall sentiment cautious.In terms of internal strength, as many as 28 out of the 50 Nifty constituents are still trading below their respective 50-day EMA levels, suggesting that the recent recovery has yet to gain strong participation across the index. Overall, while the Nifty has managed to break its losing streak, the technical setup still points to caution until broader participation and a move above key averages confirm strength. Talking about crucial levels, the zone of 24750-24800 will be the crucial hurdle for the index. If the index sustains above the 24800 level, then it is likely to extend its pullback rally upto the 25100 level. While on the downside, the zone of 24470-24450 will act as important support for the index. Any sustainable move below the level of 24450 will lead to resume its southward journey. In that case, the index is likely to test the level of 24250, followed by the 24100 level.
Bank Nifty View
Over the past week, the banking benchmark index Bank Nifty traded in a narrow 654-point range — its tightest weekly band since late August 2024. The index underperformed the frontline peers, posting a modest 0.61% gain. On the weekly chart, it formed a small-bodied bullish candle with a slight upper shadow, signalling muted directional momentum.For the past six sessions, Bank Nifty has been hovering around its 100-day EMA, reflecting an indecisive phase. It remains below the 20-day and 50-day EMAs, keeping the overall trend structure weak. The daily RSI also continues to move sideways, indicating the absence of a strong breakout setup.Looking ahead, the 55700–55800 zone will be a key resistance, while 54900–54800 will act as crucial support. A sustained move beyond either of these levels is likely to pave the way for a directional move.
Stock recommendations:
Uno Minda LtdThe stock has witnessed a breakout above a downward-sloping trendline on the daily chart, accompanied by strong volume exceeding the 50-day average, confirming the validity of the breakout. The formation of a sizable bullish candle on the breakout day adds further strength to the move. The stock is currently trading above its short and long-term moving averages, which are trending higher and aligned in the desired sequence—indicating a strong underlying trend.Momentum indicators are also supportive, with the daily RSI surging past the 60 mark and remaining in an upward trajectory. Although the ADX is currently at 15, suggesting that trend strength is still developing, the directional indicators are already in buy mode, reinforcing the bullish setup. Hence, we recommend to accumulate the stock in the zone of 1155-1145 with a stoploss of 1100 on the upside, it is likely to test the level of 1270 in the short term.HDFC LifeThe stock has recently broken out above the neckline of an Adam and Adam Double Bottom pattern on the daily chart, signalling a bullish reversal. This breakout is supported by a rising ADX, which has crossed above the -DI line, confirming directional strength. The stock is trading approximately 6% above its 100-day EMA and nearly 11% above its 200-day EMA, reflecting strong momentum. Additionally, the daily RSI is in bullish territory and continues to rise, further validating the positive price action. Hence, we recommend to accumulate the stock in the zone of 790-780 with a stoploss of 750 on the upside, it is likely to test the level of 860 in the short term.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market and other asset classes given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)
Business
Dick’s Sporting Goods raises guidance after second-quarter earnings beat

A Dick’s Sporting Goods store is shown in Oceanside, California, U.S., May 15, 2025.
Mike Blake | Reuters
Dick’s Sporting Goods raised its full-year sales and earnings guidance after delivering fiscal second-quarter results that beat expectations.
The company is now expecting comparable sales to grow between 2% and 3.5%, up from a previous range of 1% and 3% and ahead of analyst estimates of 2.9%, according to StreetAccount.
Dick’s said its earnings per share are now expected to be between $13.90 and $14.50, up from a previous range of $13.80 to $14.40. Analysts were expecting $14.39 per share, according to LSEG.
Here’s how the company performed compared with what Wall Street was anticipating, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:
- Earnings per share: $4.38 adjusted vs. $4.32 expected
- Revenue: $3.65 billion vs. $3.63 billion expected
The company’s reported net income for the three-month period that ended Aug. 2 was $381 million, or $4.71 per share, compared with $362 million, or $4.37 per share, a year earlier. Excluding one-time items related to its acquisition of Foot Locker and other costs, Dick’s posted earnings per share of $4.38.
Sales rose to $3.65 billion, up about 5% from $3.47 billion a year earlier. During the quarter, comparable sales also grew 5%, well ahead of expectations of 3.2%, according to StreetAccount.
“Our performance shows how well our long-term strategies are working, the strength and resilience of our operating model and the impact of our team’s consistent execution,” CEO Lauren Hobart said in a news release. “Our Q2 comps increased 5.0%, with growth in average ticket and transactions, and we drove second quarter gross margin expansion.”
While Dick’s comparable sales guidance came in ahead of expectations, its full-year revenue outlook was slightly below estimates. The company said it’s expecting revenue to be between $13.75 billion and $13.95 billion, below estimates of $14 billion, according to LSEG.
Dick’s said its raised profit guidance includes the impact of tariffs that are currently in effect. In an interview with CNBC’s Courtney Reagan, Dick’s executive chairman Ed Stack said the company has implemented some price increases to offset the impact of higher duties but has been “surgical” in its approach.
“We’ve been able to do what we need to from a pricing standpoint, whether that’s from the national brands or from our own brands, and then other places where we’ve held price, we’ve been able to do that, and we’ve offset it someplace else, which is what you have to do in these in these situations, and the team’s done a great job doing that,” Stack said.
Hobart said during Thursday’s call with analysts that the retailer hasn’t seen its shoppers balking at the “small-level” price increases that have gone into effect.
Hobart said broadly Dick’s hasn’t seen any signs of a consumer spending slowdown as a result of tariffs. She said Dick’s saw growth across all of its key segments during the quarter.
Foot Locker tie-up
The company said its guidance doesn’t include any potential impact from its acquisition of Foot Locker, such as costs or results from the planned takeover, which is expected to close on Sept. 8.
In May, Dick’s announced it would be acquiring its longtime rival for $2.4 billion, giving it a competitive edge in the wholesale sneaker market, most importantly for Nike products, along with a bigger global presence.
Nike is a critical brand partner for both Dick’s and Foot Locker and, at times, their performance is reliant on how well the sneaker brand is doing. During the quarter, Stack said new drops from Nike’s revamped running portfolio, including the Pegasus Premium and the Vomero Plus, are performing so well, it can’t keep the shoes in stock.
“Anything that’s new, innovative and kind of the cool factor, is blowing out,” Stack said.
However, the acquisition also comes with risks. Foot Locker’s business has been in the midst of an ambitious turnaround under CEO Mary Dillon but the company is still struggling.
In the quarter ended Aug. 2, Foot Locker’s sales fell 2.4% and it posted a loss of $38 million. The company faces a range of existential challenges, including its heavy mall footprint, its small online business and a core consumer that often has less discretionary income than the core Dick’s consumer.
Once the businesses are combined, Foot Locker’s struggles could ultimately weigh on Dick’s overall results. On the other hand, the combined company will become the No. 1 seller of athletic footwear in the U.S., which will allow it to better compete against its next biggest rival, JD Sports.
Stack acknowledged to CNBC that Foot Locker’s earnings “were not great” but said the company has a strategy.
“We have a game plan of how to turn this around,” Stack told Reagan. “We think that we can return Foot Locker to its rightful place in the top of this industry and we’re excited to roll up our sleeves and get started with that.”
Dick’s plans to operate Foot Locker as a separate entity. Moving forward, Stack said the company plans to break out details on how each brand is performing when releasing quarterly results. It’ll provide separate details on how Dick’s performed and how Foot Locker performed so investors can get a sense of what’s going on in each part of the business.
Hobart said during Thursday’s earnings call that as part of the acquisition, Dick’s plans to invest in Foot Locker stores and marketing. She also said Dick’s sees opportunities in merchandising and bringing in a new assortment of products.
“As Foot Locker becomes part of the Dick’s family, we are an even more important brand to our wholesale partners, and that’s part of the thesis,” Hobart said.
Earlier this week, Dick’s said it had received all regulatory approvals associated with the transaction. It’s unclear if it had to divest any stores to satisfy the FTC’s requirements.
— CNBC’s Ali McCadden contributed to this report.
Business
Ex-WH Smith finance boss delays Greggs board appointment amid accounting probe

Greggs has delayed the appointment of incoming board director Robert Moorhead due to a review into a major accounting error at his previous firm, WH Smith.
The high street bakery chain said Mr Moorhead – the former finance chief at WH Smith – had asked to delay his appointment until a review by Deloitte into the blunder at WH Smith is completed.
He had been due to start at Greggs on October 1 as an independent non-executive director and chair of the audit committee.
Mr Moorhead left WH Smith in 2024 after more than 20 years at the chain.
The delay to his appointment comes after WH Smith saw nearly £600 million wiped off its stock market value last week when it revealed a review of its finances had discovered trading profits in North America had been overstated by about £30 million.
It warned that annual profits would be lower than expected as a result, sending shares down by more than 40% at one stage during the day.
WH Smith said it had found an issue in how it calculated the amount of supplier income it received – leading it to be recognised too early.
It means the group is now expecting a trading profit for the US of about £25 million for the year to August – a cut from the previous £55 million forecast.
As a result, the company lowered its outlook for annual pre-tax profits to around £110 million.
Greggs said Kate Ferry will remain as a non-executive director and will continue as chair of the audit committee in the interim.
Business
Electric cars eligible for £3,750 discount announced

Pritti MistryBusiness reporter, BBC News

The first electric vehicles (EV) eligible for the £3,750 discount under the government’s grant scheme have been announced.
The Department for Transport confirmed Ford’s Puma Gen-E or e-Tourneo Courier would be discounted as part of plans to encourage drivers to move away from petrol and diesel vehicles.
Under the grant scheme, the discount applies to eligible car models costing up to £37,000, with the most environmentally friendly ones seeing the biggest reductions. Another 26 models have been cleared for discounts of £1,500.
Carmakers can apply for models to be eligible for grants, which are then automatically applied at the point of sale.
More vehicles are expected to be approved in the coming weeks and the DfT said the policy would bring down prices to “closely match their petrol and diesel counterparts”.
The government has pledged to ban the sale of new fully petrol or diesel cars from 2030.
But many drivers cite upfront costs as a key barrier to buying an EV and some have told the BBC that the UK needs more charging points.
According to Ford’s website, the recommended retail price (RRP) for a new Puma Gen-E starts from £29,905 while a petrol equivalent is upward of £26,060. With the reduction applied, buyers would be looking in the region of £26,155 for the EV version.
The grants to lower the cost of EVs will be funded through the £650m scheme, and will be available for three years.
There are around 1.3 million electric cars on Britain’s roads but currently only around 82,000 public charging points.
Full list of EVs eligible for the £1,500 discount
- Citroën ë-C3 and Citroën ë-C3 Aircross
- Citroën ë-C4 and Citroën ë-C4 X
- Citroën ë-C5 Aircross
- Citroën ë-Berlingo
- Cupra Born
- DS DS3
- DS N°4
- Nissan Ariya
- Nissan Micra
- Peugeot E-208
- Peugeot E-2008
- Peugeot E-308
- Peugeot E-408
- Peugeot E-Rifter
- Renault 4
- Renault 5
- Renault Alpine A290
- Renault Megane
- Renault Scenic
- Vauxhall Astra Electric
- Vauxhall Combo Life Electric
- Vauxhall Corsa Electric
- Vauxhall Frontera Electric
- Vauxhall Grandland Electric
- Vauxhall Mokka Electric
- Volkswagen ID.3
The up-front cost of EVs is higher on average than for petrol cars.
According to Autotrader, the average price of a new battery electric car was £49,790 in June 2025, based on manufacturers’ recommended prices for 148 models.
The equivalent for a petrol car was £34,225, but the average covers a broad range of prices.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the grant scheme was making it “easier and cheaper for families to make the switch to electric”.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said drivers “frequently tell us that the upfront costs of new EVs are a stumbling block to making the switch to electric”.
“It is great to see some of these more substantial £3,750 discounts coming online because for some drivers this might just bridge the financial gap to make these cars affordable.”
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