Stock Market at 4-Month Low: Will Budget Bring a Rally? Experts Weigh In

• Indian stock market, Sensex and Nifty, hit 4-month lows, closing lower for the third consecutive day.
• Market volatility saw Sensex drop over 1,000 points intraday, Nifty breached 25,000, but recovered some losses.
• Key concerns driving the market downturn include global geopolitical tensions, continuous FII selling (over ₹32,000 crore withdrawn this year), and a weak corporate earnings season.
• Experts like Santosh Meena suggest a defensive strategy, seeing value in large private banks (HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank) and select PSUs (ONGC, BEL, Hindustan Copper), with FMCG as a 'protective shield'.
• Nifty's 25,000 level (200-day moving average) is crucial; a sustained hold could lead to a pre-budget relief rally, but a decisive break could extend the decline.

Why It Matters: Stock market at 4-month low due to global tensions, FII selling, and weak earnings; caution advised pre-budget.