The sharp correction in Indian equities triggered by fears of a prolonged war in West Asia should be viewed as a buying opportunity, according to Rajesh Kothari, Managing Director at AlfAccurate Advisors.Benchmark indices declined nearly 3% this week — their steepest weekly fall in over a year — as rising crude oil prices and geopolitical tensions rattled investor sentiment. Financial stocks led the decline, with the Nifty Bank logging its biggest weekly drop in 14 months.However, Kothari believes the selloff reflects sentiment rather than a deterioration in underlying economic fundamentals.“We are currently in a fearful phase of the market. When others are fearful, that’s usually the time to be greedy,” Kothari told CNBC-TV18, advising investors to deploy money gradually over the next 30–60 days rather than attempting to time the market.He emphasised that the outcome of the West Asia conflict is less important for markets than its duration. While companies with exposure to the Middle East could face short-term uncertainty, the broader domestic growth story remains intact.Against this backdrop, Kothari highlighted four sectors that investors should focus on.Autos remain a key bet, supported by strong demand trends and low inventory levels across the industry. February sales data was robust, and leading automakers have reported healthy growth, signalling sustained momentum.Banking and financials are another preferred sector. Credit growth has improved to around 13% from about 8.5% earlier, while asset quality remains strong. According to Kothari, the sector could become a “strong buy on declines” if crude-driven inflation concerns ease.He also sees opportunities in capital goods, particularly companies reporting strong order inflows as India’s investment cycle picks up.Lastly, hospitals stand out as a defensive play. The sector remains largely insulated from geopolitical risks and technological disruptions such as artificial intelligence.“These are strong India stories that are far less impacted by global macro factors,” Kothari said.With markets currently driven by uncertainty around geopolitics and energy prices, he believes investors should focus on structural domestic growth sectors rather than reacting to short-term volatility.
