Avoid IT, focus on growth: Samir Arora's playbook for next 12 months

Fund manager Samir Arora advised investors to focus on growth-oriented mid-cap and small-cap companies targeting 13-15 percent annual growth, rather than chasing marginal earnings beats. He remains bearish on the IT services sector due to AI disruption and the rise of global capability centres, and also avoids consumer staples citing pressure from quick commerce and digital platforms. Financials remain his largest portfolio holding though he is not adding aggressively, and he expects crude oil prices to ease into the 65-80 dollar range, which is supportive for India.