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The Sensex fell 60.05 points to close at 16,972.51. The Nifty dropped 18.95 points and ended at 5,146.05.

Moneycontrol.com got Sailav Kaji, director- strategist, Padmakshi Financial Services to answer the stock queries you sent us on our Facebook page as part of KYI (Know Your Investment). Check out his comments.

Also read: Nirmal Jain says it is good time to buy; bets on 3 sectors

Anisha Rudra: What is your year-end target for the Nifty?

Kaji: I believe the market has bottomed out in terms of valuations on price basis as well as time basis. So, inspite of challenging environment domestically as well as globally, the market will move up, but slowly. I expect the Nifty to be in the range of 5,600-5,800 by year-end. 

Tina Basetia: Can you recommend the best stock picks?

Kaji: I believe it depends on your risk appetite and time horizon. If you are decent risk taker with one-two year time horizon then L&T , SBI , IDFC , Maruti look good to go long on for over 50% returns. If you are conservative then Cipla , Hindustan Unilever can deliver 20-30% returns in one-year time frame. 

Gaurav Nyati: What is your call on a stock like Kingfisher ?

Kaji: Kingfisher is for those investors who believe in betting on philosophy that if promoter group is strong and politically well connected then they can turnaround a company, even if it is sick. It does play out historically in cases like Jindals, and Adanis. But risks are very high. Unless aviation policy does not become favorable, the stock will find it difficult to go beyond 17-18.

Pallavi Sharma: What is your view on the cement sector, especially stocks like Ambuja Cements after the CCI penalty? Should one hold or sell?

Kaji: As the negative is out, the hangover is over. The market will factor the impact in prices. In the short-term, the ability to raise prices will definitely decline. But I believe most of them will go for appeal. So, for the short-term, one should avoid. If one is holding Ambuja Cements, he/she should hold on as Rs 190 can be achieved in the next six months.

Anurag Srivastava: Can Bank of India be held for a period of five years? What is your outlook?

Kaji: Bank of India is a good bet for three-five years as capital adequacy is good for it to capture growth without diluting in big way. One can look at CAGR returns of 15-18% over next five years.

Gautam Dudhoria: Is Delta Corp a long-term bet?

Kaji: Delta Corp is a long-term bet considering the sector prospects in which the company operates. But returns will mainly depend on company’s ability to capitalise on the potential of the sector. I would say it’s a concept stock. If you believe in the potential of sector, you hold for long term

Hitesh Rajpara: What is your call on United Phosphorus , Orchid Chemicals  and Biocon ?

Kaji: United Phosphorus is attractively valued at current prices. With fertiliser sector likely to be focus on policy front, positive can be expected from that angle too.

Orchid, I would avoid considering the corporate governance issues as well as high pledge of promoter holding increasing risk of margin sell-off, which had happened in past.

Biocon can be accumulated at current levels for a quarter slowly as it will take one more quarter to resolve fundamental issues. But I don’t see near-term upside.

Umesh Nangia: Open interest in Infosys is increasing. Should I hold it for some more time?

Kaji: Infosys is likely to consolidate gains of last couple of weeks in range of Rs 2,400-2,500. Next quarter numbers are likely to be subdued. But that is, more or less, factored in. Upside is limited in the near-term

Siddhartha Umesh Shah: What is your view on Fortis , BEML and BEL from a four-five year time horizon?

Kaji: In the long-term, all three are good. Among the three, BEL can give better returns followed by BEML and Fortis.

Vineet Kalra: What is your call on 3i Infotech ?

Kaji: It’s very difficult for company to grow, considering the leverage. It is more likely to be taken over by someone. If your risk appetite is high, with this thing in mind, one will make decent returns. If that happens otherwise, stock will languish around current levels.

Radhika Vishwanathan: I hold 150 shares of ICICI Bank at Rs 830. What is the future for banks in the near-term? Do I accumulate more?

Kaji: ICICI Bank is a good bet at around Rs 800. Banks will do better, considering likely rate cut over next two quarters and valuation are attractive. You can add around Rs 825 levels.