News › Markets  ·  21 May 2026, 11:44 AM IST  ·  3 months ago

Motilal Oswal: Prioritize Resilience; DII Support Cushions Market

Bias: Mildly Bullish +2985% confidence

In one line — Maintain a balanced portfolio with a tilt towards quality and defensive stocks; consider accumulating fundamentally strong companies on dips, especially if FII selling subsides.

Bearish
Bullish
−1000+29+100

Source: Mint · AI-summarised by Anadi · Updated 21 May 2026, 11:49 AM IST

What Happened

Siddhartha Khemka from Motilal Oswal advises retail investors to shift focus from aggressive growth to portfolio resilience. This recommendation comes as Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) maintain a record 20.9% ownership, providing a significant demand cushion for the Indian equity market.

Why It Matters (for you)

This expert view highlights the underlying strength provided by domestic money, which can absorb potential selling pressure from Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs). It suggests that even a slight improvement in FII sentiment could lead to a meaningful market rally, making the current environment one where stability is key for retail investors.

Impact on Indian Markets

While no specific stocks are named, the advice generally favors large-cap, quality stocks and defensive sectors that offer stability. The strong DII ownership acts as a broad market support, potentially reducing volatility across the Nifty and Sensex. A moderation in FII selling would broadly benefit all Indian equities.

What Traders Should Watch Next

Traders should monitor FII flow data closely for signs of moderation in selling or a shift to buying. Also, observe the performance of DII-heavy stocks and sectors for continued resilience. The overall market sentiment and global cues, particularly those influencing FII behavior, will be crucial indicators.

Key Evidence

  • Siddhartha Khemka of Motilal Oswal advises retail investors to prioritize portfolio resilience over aggression.
  • Record DII ownership stands at 20.9%, providing a structural demand cushion.
  • Moderation in FII selling could lead to a meaningful improvement in market sentiment.
  • Risk flag: Continued FII selling pressure
  • Risk flag: Global economic slowdown impacting emerging markets