New Delhi, Dec. 27 -- Stocks to buy for the long term: The Indian stock market benchmark, the Nifty 50, is set to end the year with modest gains due to heavy foreign capital outflow, weak earnings, and US tariffs. Year-to-date, the Nifty 50 is up nearly 10%, while the broader Nifty 500 has gained about 6%.

Expectations are rife that the coming year will be better than 2025 on earnings recovery and a healthy macroeconomic backdrop.

"We expect a somewhat better calendar year 2026 with a strong recovery in earnings, improved domestic consumption demand on the back of GST and income tax rate cuts and lower interest rates, and a likely better macro on the likely conclusion of the India-US trade deal," said brokerage firm Kotak Securities.

S...