Expert view, July 4 -- The Indian stock market may surpass previous highs in the second half of the year, especially during the festive season, says Ankit Patel, the co-founder at Arunasset Investment Services. Talking to Mint's Nishant Kumar, Patel says investors should be disciplined and focused during times of uncertainty. Further, he believes pharma can serve as a strong contra bet. In an interview with Mint, Patel shared his views on markets, sectors that can generate alpha and his expectations from Q1FY26 results. Here are edited excerpts of the interview:

The first half of the calendar year 2025 (H1CY25) experienced a sluggish start due to delayed government spending, primarily caused by election-related activities in the early mo...