New Delhi, Aug. 26 -- The Indian stock market ended with decent gains on Monday, 25 August, led by buying in select IT and financial heavyweights, including Infosys, TCS, HCL Tech, and HDFC Bank.

The Sensex closed at 81,635.91, up 329 points, or 0.40%, while the Nifty 50 settled at 24,967.75, up 98 points. However, the mid- and small-cap segments underperformed. The BSE Midcap index rose 0.10%, while the Smallcap index slipped marginally.

On to the best stock picks for 26 August as recommended by leading market experts.

Why it is recommended: Skipper has delivered a powerful combination of financial strength, sectoral relevance and managerial acumen. In FY25, it achieved a 41% jump in consolidated sales to Rs.4,624 crore, while holding...