5 stocks to watch this week: Analysts see up to 32% upside in these high-potential picks - Full list here

 

Stocks to Watch: Volatility is expected to stay elevated in the markets in the coming days. On Friday, there was no specific trigger such as a spike in crude oil prices or any fresh statement from either side in the US-Iran conflict, yet the Indian markets still closed weaker.

This came at a time when most global markets were trading firmly in the green, indicating that the selling pressure was driven primarily by domestic factors.

Another phase of delivery-based selling

There is a strong likelihood of another phase of delivery-based selling as the market begins to factor in upcoming Q1 FY results, which are not expected to be strong. Investors should moderate short-term expectations and prepare for continued volatility.

The concern stems from the fact that the market’s worst fears have materialised. Oil prices are now largely above the $80 level, which is generally seen as the threshold that both fiscal stability and corporate earnings can comfortably absorb. Beyond this point, pressures begin to build on both macroeconomic and microeconomic fundamentals.

This is not the first instance of oil prices crossing the comfort threshold. However, the key difference this time is that the spike is driven by disruptions in the supply chain in the world’s major oil-producing region. As a result, it may take some time before prices return to normal levels.

What investors should consider?

In such a scenario, investors with surplus cash may consider focusing on companies undergoing structural transformation, where the underlying change is significant and likely to outlast short-term geopolitical disruptions.

Investors should also consider companies backed by strong parentage and robust balance sheets. Regardless of size, all firms face financial stress at some point, but those with stronger balance sheets are better positioned to withstand crises and navigate periods of market uncertainty.

Stocks to look for

ET has curated a list of five large and mid-cap stocks that have recorded an improvement in their average Stock Reports Plus score over a one-week period.

ET further evaluated whether these stocks offer strong upside potential over the next 12 months and enjoy analyst confidence. The selection includes only those stocks with an average recommendation rating of "Strong Buy", "Buy", or "Hold."

ET noted that the selected stocks span multiple sectors, including banking, auto, pharma, and others. These stocks had earlier undergone corrective phases and are now showing signs of recovery, in line with the broader market trend. However, it remains to be seen whether the improvement in scores will translate into stronger stock performance going forward.

The screening for these five stocks is based on data sourced from Refinitiv’s latest SR Plus report dated May 30, 2026.

Stock picks of the week

• Havells India | Recommendation - Buy | Upside Potential - 32 per cent
• Jio Financial Services | Recommendation - Strong Buy | Upside Potential - 28 per cent
• GlaxoSmithKline Pharma | Recommendation - Buy | Upside Potential - 25 per cent
• Maruti Suzuki India | Recommendation - Buy | Upside Potential - 23 per cent
• Kotak Mahindra Bank | Recommendation - Buy | Upside Potential - 22 per cent
  
  
  

(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. ET NOW DIGITAL suggests its readers/audience to consult their financial advisors before making any money related decisions.)

For the trading week starting June 1, 2026, analysts have flagged a curated list of high-potential stocks to watch, backed by institutional accumulation, technical breakouts, and favorable risk-reward setups.

Leading large-cap analysts have highlighted a top list of 5 Nifty 50 large-caps positioned to outperform amidst broader market volatility, alongside several high-potential mid-and-small-cap picks seeing significant target upgrades.

📈 Top 5 Nifty 50 Picks to Watch This Week

Market experts from Univest have mapped out actionable buy zones and multi-level targets for five defensive and momentum setups based on institutional backing:

1. Bajaj Finance (BAJFINANCE) — The Valuation Play

• May 29 Close: ₹909 | Buy Zone: ₹900 - ₹915

• Targets: Target 1: ₹975 | Target 2: ₹1,020 (Stop-Loss: ₹875)

• Upside Catalyst: It presents a compelling mean-reversion setup, trading roughly 14.6% below its 52-week high. Currently valued at 24x P/E (versus its 5-year average of 35-40x), it stands to benefit directly from an anticipated RBI rate cut cycle and a stable 25%–28% YoY Asset Under Management (AUM) growth trajectory.

2. Tech Mahindra (TECHM) — The Momentum Setup

• May 29 Close: ₹1,480 | Buy Zone: ₹1,465 - ₹1,485

• Targets: Target 1: ₹1,560 | Target 2: ₹1,610 (Stop-Loss: ₹1,430)

• Upside Catalyst: The stock recently delivered a clean 200-DMA breakout. Demonstrating immense relative strength, it held flat during a recent broader market selloff—a clear indicator of institutional accumulation. Margin recoveries and expanding GenAI-led business restructuring underpin its FY27 outlook.

3. HCL Technologies (HCLTECH) — The Value Pick

• May 29 Close: ₹1,182 | Buy Zone: ₹1,170 - ₹1,190

• Targets: Target 1: ₹1,260 | Target 2: ₹1,310 (Stop-Loss: ₹1,140)

• Upside Catalyst: Trading near its 52-week low with a solid 3.2% dividend yield, HCL Tech offers a deep margin of safety. At 20x P/E, it sits at a substantial discount compared to peers like TCS and Infosys, bolstered by a robust GenAI project pipeline with Google, Microsoft, and SAP.

  
  
  

4. Bharti Airtel (BHARTIARTL) — The Event Catalyst

• May 29 Close: ₹1,827 | Buy Zone: ₹1,810 - ₹1,830

• Targets: Target 1: ₹1,900 | Target 2: ₹1,950 (Stop-Loss: ₹1,785)

• Upside Catalyst: Consistently outperforming during market pullbacks, Airtel is riding on ARPU improvements via 5G expansion and home broadband dominance. An upcoming Extra Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) on June 12 acts as a key technical anchor.

5. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (SUNPHARMA) — The Defensive Play

• May 29 Close: ₹1,803 | Buy Zone: ₹1,790 - ₹1,810

• Targets: Target 1: ₹1,890 | Target 2: ₹1,940 (Stop-Loss: ₹1,760)

• Upside Catalyst: Serves as a strong defensive buffer against geopolitical uncertainty and macro pressures. Scaling global operations in its high-margin US specialty segments (such as Ilumya and Cequa) provides a steady earnings tailwind.

🚀 Broader Market High-Upside Picks (Up to 14%–15% Short-Term)

Beyond the main large-cap tracker, top institutional desks like Motilal Oswal and SBI Securities have pushed high-conviction structural buys for the week:

• Astra Microwave (ASTRA): CMP: ₹1,381 | Target: ₹1,580 (~14% upside). Motilal Oswal upgraded its estimates following massive 4QFY26 export momentum and incoming production orders for domestic defense radar and space programs.

  
  
  

• Shaily Engineering Plastics (SHEP): CMP: ₹2,990 | Target: ₹3,404 (~14% upside). Benefiting heavily from global healthcare demands, specifically an explosion in orders for insulin and GLP-1 pens.

• Nuvama Wealth Management (NUVAMA): Accumulate Zone: ₹1,550 - ₹1,560 | Target: ₹1,665. Staged a sharp 10.5% recovery off its 20-day EMA with a strong bullish RSI reading over 60.

• R R Kabel (RRKABEL): Accumulate Zone: ₹2,050 - ₹2,060 | Target: ₹2,200. Triggered a massive consolidation breakout on May 29 supported by a substantial spike in volumes.

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Petrol, diesel prices on June 1: Check latest fuel rates in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and other cities

 

Fuel prices remained unchanged across the country on Monday, June 1, after a series of sharp increases over the past two weeks pushed petrol and diesel rates to their highest levels in more than three years.

The latest revision came on May 25, when state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) raised petrol prices by Rs 2.61 per litre and diesel prices by Rs 2.71 per litre. It marked the fourth fuel price hike since May 15, taking the cumulative increase in both fuels to nearly Rs 7.5 per litre.

The price hikes followed a surge in global crude oil prices after the prolonged Iran conflict disrupted energy supplies from the Gulf region. India, which depends heavily on the region for crude oil, natural gas and LPG imports, faced higher import costs during the three-month conflict.

With the recent increases, petrol and diesel prices have climbed to their highest levels since May 2022. Fuel rates had largely remained unchanged for more than two years, except for a Rs 2 per litre reduction announced in March 2024.

Fuel demand sees strong growth

The government said fuel consumption has remained strong despite higher prices. Officials attributed the rise in demand partly to agricultural activity and a shift in purchases from private retailers and bulk buyers to state-run fuel stations due to pricing differences.

According to the petroleum ministry, more than 150 districts reported petrol sales growth of over 30 per cent, while 14 districts saw sales more than double. Diesel sales rose over 30 per cent in 156 districts, with six districts reporting growth exceeding 100 per cent.

Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, which together account for about 90 per cent of the domestic fuel market, have raised petrol and diesel prices by around Rs 7.5 per litre since May 15.

Petrol prices in major cities on June 1

Petrol prices varied across cities, with Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram among the costliest markets.

City	Diesel Price (Rs/litre)
Thiruvananthapuram	104.40
Hyderabad	103.82
Bhubaneswar	100.68
Patna	100.20
Kolkata	99.82
Chennai	99.65
Bengaluru	98.80
Mumbai	97.83
Jaipur	97.78
Lucknow	95.36
Gurugram	95.30
New Delhi	95.20
Noida	95.44
Chandigarh	89.47

Diesel prices in major cities on June 1

Diesel prices also remained elevated following the latest round of hikes.

City	Diesel Price (Rs/litre)
Thiruvananthapuram	104.40
Hyderabad	103.82
Bhubaneswar	100.68
Patna	100.20
Kolkata	99.82
Chennai	99.65
Bengaluru	98.80
Mumbai	97.83
Jaipur	97.78
Lucknow	95.36
Gurugram	95.30
New Delhi	95.20
Noida	95.44
Chandigarh	89.47

In Delhi, petrol is currently priced at Rs 102.12 per litre, up from Rs 99.51 before the May 25 revision. Diesel prices in the national capital have risen to Rs 95.20 per litre from Rs 92.49 earlier.

Retail fuel prices across India's major metro cities remain steady today, June 1, 2026. While the Central Government recently announced a reduction in windfall taxes on fuel exports, it explicitly clarified that domestic excise duties on petrol and diesel remain completely unchanged.

The relative stability follows a period of volatility and previous price adjustments driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Here are the latest petrol and diesel rates per litre across major Indian cities as of June 1, 2026:

⛽ Fuel Rates in Major Cities (June 1, 2026)

City	Petrol Price (per litre)	Diesel Price (per litre)
New Delhi	₹102.12	₹95.20
Mumbai	₹111.21 (or ~₹111.18 depending on outlet)	₹97.83
Kolkata	₹113.51	₹99.82
Bengaluru	₹110.89 (or ~₹110.91)	₹98.80
Hyderabad	₹115.69	₹103.82
Chennai	₹107.87	₹99.65
Noida	₹102.12	₹95.56
Jaipur	₹112.93	₹98.01

🔍 Factors Influencing Daily Rates

• Local Taxes (VAT): Variations in prices between cities like New Delhi and Mumbai are primarily due to different Value Added Tax (VAT) rates imposed by respective state governments.

• Global Crude Pressures: While domestic prices are steady today, global Brent crude has been trading with upward pressure near the $93 per barrel mark due to West Asian supply risks.

  
  
  

• Daily Revisions: Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) like IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL adjust fuel rates daily at 6:00 AM IST based on international benchmarks and foreign exchange rates.

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How much water should one drink daily to flush out toxins and keep the kidneys healthy

 

Water has been called the most important nutrient, and rightly so. Every cell, tissue, and organ in the body needs water to function at its best. But when it comes to kidney function and "toxin flushing," just how much water do we really need? And does boosting water intake really matter?

Let's get real, based on some hard evidence from scientific research and health organizations....

Why do our kidneys need water

For us, kidneys might be the background workers, they remove waste products, balance fluids, and control minerals like sodium and potassium. Water plays a crucial role in all of them. If one is well-hydrated, the kidneys can efficiently:

• Remove waste through urine
• Suppress the formation of kidney stones
• Have healthy blood pressure and filtering
  
  
  

According to the National Kidney Foundation, water continues to keep your kidneys flushing waste from your blood in the form of urine, and fluid intake also helps maintain open blood vessels for blood to flow to the kidneys.

The Institute of Medicine (U.S.) recommends the following daily total amount of water (from foods and beverages):

• Men: About 3.7 liters (about 15.5 cups)
• Women: About 2.7 liters (roughly 11.5 cups)
  
  
  

This includes all fluids (not just plain water) and water from food like fruits, vegetables, and soups.

But these are general guidelines. The quantity of water your body needs changes with your:

• Age and sex
• Degree of physical activity
• Climate (hot and humid climates increase water requirements)
• Health status (fever, diarrhea, kidney disease, etc.)

What does research say

How much water should one drink daily to flush out toxins and keep the kidneys healthy

Mass US survey research (NHANES 2011–2012) that was released in Medicine journal concluded that a daily intake of less than 500 mL of water was associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared to people with a daily intake of more than 1.2 liters. This suggests that drinking insufficient quantities of water on a consistent basis can put a strain on your kidneys.

Another investigation (NHANES 2005–2006) in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation observed low total fluid consumption — less than 2 liters a day, linked with over twice the risk of kidney harm as opposed to subjects who drank greater than 4 liters a day.

But a clinical trial in JAMA in 2018 examined individuals already with stage 3 kidney disease. Raising water consumption in those individuals did not result in improved kidney function after a year. That implies water benefits more in prevention than in treatment of kidney issues.

Can we drink too much waterYes. Drinking too much water too quickly may dilute your blood's sodium level, a state known as hyponatremia, which is unhealthy. Also, people who already have kidney disease may have to limit fluids, their doctor tells them.

Listen to your body

• Try for approximately 2.5 to 3.5 liters of water daily, depending on the climate of the place where you live and your activity level
• The urine must be pale yellow; dark yellow means one is likely dehydrated
• Don't force water on yourself but also do not ignore if you are feeling thirsty

If you have health issues, especially kidney or cardiac, always seek medical clearance from your doctor before making changes in water intake. Hydration with sufficient water keeps kidneys healthy — but it's all about balance, not overload.

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