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BSE Smallcap's 2% weekly slide had 821 culprits to blame for as they fell up to 43% in the truncated week that ended on Thursday. In this, 116 counters plunged in double-digits as the overall sentiments remained subdued on US recession fears and tariff wars, unleashed by President Donald Trump.The top 10 laggards in the week gone by include BMW Industries, Triveni Turbine, Veranda Learning Solutions, Jai Corp, Orchid Pharma, Coffee Day Enterprises, Max Estates, EKI Energy Services, Gensol Engineering and K&R Rail Engineering which fell between 16% and 43%. <iframe title="BSE Smallcaps: 10 biggest laggards " aria-label="Bar Chart" id="datawrapper-chart-Ni2g6" src="https://et-infographics.indiatimes.com/graphs/Ni2g6/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="306" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();</script>Others with double-digit decline include Sapphire Foods India, Aditya Birla Real Estate, Balu Forge Industries, Swan Energy, Birlasoft, Hindustan Construction Company, Texmaco Rail & Engineering, Vakrangee and Senco Gold.Smallcap PSU stocks like Housing & Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), Bharat Dynamics, Cochin Shipyard, NBCC (India), BEML, Railtel Corporation Of India, The Jammu & Kashmir Bank, Shipping Corporation Of India (SCI), RITES and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers fell between 0.82% and 5.80%. Among the private names which are widely tracked, Tata Chemicals(-2.31), Sobha Motherson Sumi Wiring India, Fortis Healthcare, Natco Pharma, Honasa Consumer (mamaearth) and PVR Inox fell in the range of 2.31% and 6.59%.Also Read: BSE500 slumps 1.3% week-on-week led by IndusInd Bank crash. IT worst sectoral performerSmallcaps have been under immense pressure for the past six months and are now dangling in the bear territory. The BSE Smallcap index has fallen by over 23% in this period. In contrast, the BSE Sensex has fallen 11%.Expert Sunil Koul, Goldman Sachs sees further risk in the mid and smallcap segment, especially if one looks at from the positioning standpoint. "As we all know, those are the pockets wherein we had domestic institutions and retail positioning got into very extreme or elevated levels over the last few years and there we have not seen any major signs of moderation yet," he said."There is still quite a bit of retail/domestic institutional positioning in mid and smallcaps and so there could be more risk there. And so in terms of the preference within caps, we still have a preference of largecaps versus kind of mid and smallcaps in our allocation," he added. (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)

The stock market has witnessed a rare phenomenon - declining for five consecutive months, testing the patience and resilience of investors. However, history has shown that those who adopt the right mindset and strategy during downturns emerge stronger. A similar approach was demonstrated by the Indian cricket team in their triumphant Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, where they remained unbeaten despite challenges. Investors can draw valuable lessons from India’s championship-winning mindset to navigate this bearish phase effectively.1. Belief in Large Caps – Experience PrevailsIn every aspect of life, experience holds immense value. The Indian cricket team placed its trust in seasoned players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who delivered under pressure despite a poor run leading up to the tournament. Similarly, large-cap stocks, known for their resilience and stability, act as anchors in a bear market. These companies, backed by strong fundamentals and market leadership, help investors weather prolonged downturns.2. All-Round Stocks for a Challenging MarketIndia’s triumph was driven by a team of all-rounders, allowing them to maintain a deep batting lineup and a versatile bowling attack. Likewise, investors should focus on stocks with “all-round” characteristics - companies with strong earnings, reinvestment for growth, a solid balance sheet with low leverage, and robust cash flow generation. These qualities enable businesses to sustain themselves during market downturns and capitalize on future growth opportunities.3. Revisiting the Investment RationaleShreyas Iyer, India’s highest run-scorer in the tournament, refined his technique after being dropped from the team, leveraging his strengths and addressing weaknesses. Investors must take a similar approach - periodically reassessing their portfolios. If the original investment thesis remains intact, they should stay committed despite market fluctuations. However, if the fundamental reasons for investing have changed, it may be prudent to exit and reallocate capital to stronger opportunities.4. Proper Planning & PatienceIndia’s success was a result of meticulous planning, including selecting the right spinners for conditions that favored turn. Similarly, investors should conduct thorough research before investing, avoid impulsive decisions based on market noise, and maintain patience. Holding cash and waiting for the right buying opportunity can be a game-changer, as stocks have now reached valuations seen five or ten years ago. Timing, as in cricket, is crucial - just as India strategically utilized Varun Chakravarthy to great effect.5. Blocking Out NoiseThroughout the tournament, critics and rival teams doubted India’s dominance, attributing it to favorable conditions rather than skill. However, India remained focused and did not let external negativity affect their performance. Investors should adopt a similar mindset - bear markets are often accompanied by excessive pessimism and negative news. Historically, when the market is saturated with bad news, it often marks the beginning of a recovery. Staying focused on long-term fundamentals rather than short-term fears is key.6. Controlling the ControllablesIndia won every match despite not winning a single toss. Instead of worrying about factors beyond their control, they focused on their efforts and execution. In investing, predicting the exact market bottom is impossible. Rather than attempting to time the market, investors should stay disciplined with their investment strategies, such as continuing systematic investment plans (SIPs). As the saying goes, “When the time is not good to collect returns, it’s time to collect units.”ConclusionJust as India’s Champions Trophy victory was built on experience, strategy, patience, and focus, investors must adopt a similar approach in navigating bear markets. Trusting large caps, selecting fundamentally strong stocks, reassessing investment rationales, maintaining discipline, and tuning out noise are essential to surviving and thriving in volatile times. A bear market is not just a test of financial strategy but also of mental resilience - the ones who stay the course with the right mindset will ultimately emerge victorious.