Banking picks for 2006

BOOMING BANKEX-MATTER OF CONSOLIDATION OR CONCERN

Banking stocks have been on a rise lately.This trend comes in the back of a healthy correction for quite some months and so this momentum is likely to continue till the end of the month. The year ahead for the bankex index is dependent closely on the meeting between RBI and US FED meeting to be held between 25th and 31st jan. Individual stock trend would depend on Q3 results of the respective banks in the short run. My picks for 2006 are

1) ICICI
2) Union Bank of India
3) Andhra Bank
4) Centurion Bank of Punjab
5) SBI
6) UTI
7) Oriental Bank of Commerce