Top Traded by Value Today 16-Mar-2026: Most Active Stocks

Introduction

Indian equity benchmarks staged a strong recovery, with the Sensex gaining 938.93 points (1.26%) to close at 75,502.85 and the Nifty 50 rising 257.7 points (1.11%) to settle at 23,408.80. The rally was primarily driven by strong buying in banking, auto, and cement stocks. However, market breadth was weak, with 1,305 shares advancing against 2,693 declining, indicating that the gains were concentrated in select large-cap counters.

Large Cap Top Traded by Value

HDFC Bank Ltd (+2.88%)

The stock surged and led the Nifty 50's recovery, becoming the most traded counter by value. Investors reacted positively as the share bounced back from a 52-week low of ₹812 hit last week, viewing it as an attractive entry point. The buying was supported by a strong analyst consensus, with 45 out of 47 analysts maintaining a 'Buy' rating, and a technical rebound indicated by the RSI moving from an oversold level of 22 to 33.

Reliance Industries Ltd (+1.05%)

Reliance Industries gained amid high trading volumes, contributing to the benchmark indices' rise. The positive momentum was supported by a recent 'Buy' recommendation from Motilal Oswal with a target price of ₹1750. As a market heavyweight, the stock also benefited from the broader large-cap-led rally.

Larsen & Toubro Ltd (+0.67%)

Larsen & Toubro saw high trading activity and closed with a modest gain, suggesting investor interest after a recent sharp fall. The stock likely attracted bargain hunters following its 7.5% decline on March 13 due to geopolitical concerns in the Middle East. Despite recent volatility, positive long-term analyst targets may have supported the buying interest at lower levels.

ICICI Bank Ltd (+1.49%)

The stock climbed on the back of a strong sector-wide rally, with the Nifty Private Bank index gaining 1.21%. As a leading private sector bank, it attracted significant investor participation, which was reflected in its high trading volume of 2.32 crore shares. The move was in line with the broader positive sentiment for banking stocks during the session.

Bharti Airtel Ltd (-0.82%)

Bharti Airtel ended lower, moving against the positive market trend. The stock witnessed selling pressure despite the broader rally in large-caps. The high trading volume of 1.48 crore shares indicates significant activity, possibly due to profit-booking or stock-specific concerns not detailed in available news.

Mid Cap Top Traded by Value

Adani Total Gas Ltd (-6.72%)

The stock declined sharply due to weakness in the broader energy sector, as the Nifty Oil & Gas index fell 1.51%. High trading volume accompanied the price drop, indicating significant selling pressure throughout the session. The negative sentiment in the sector was a key driver for the stock's underperformance.

IDBI Bank Ltd (-16.49%)

IDBI Bank plummeted on exceptionally high trading volume of over 13 crore shares. This intense selling pressure suggests a significant block deal or a major exit by an institutional investor. The stock was among the top losers, with the massive volume indicating a substantial shift in shareholding.

Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (+2.35%)

MCX shares gained as derivatives data indicated a build-up of fresh long positions. A significant increase in open interest alongside a price rise suggests that traders are betting on further upside. This positive sentiment in the F&O market fueled the stock's advance on high trading value.

Max Healthcare Institute Ltd (-2.02%)

Shares of Max Healthcare fell, mirroring the negative trend in the broader healthcare space. The Nifty Pharma and Nifty Healthcare indices were among the top sectoral losers, declining by 1.83% and 1.76% respectively. The stock's movement was primarily driven by this sector-wide selling pressure.

National Aluminium Company Ltd (-3.90%)

National Aluminium Company declined despite the Nifty Metal index closing in the green. The stock-specific selling pressure on high volume indicates that investors were booking profits, causing it to underperform its peers in the metal sector.

Small Cap Top Traded by Value

Mangalore Refinery And Petrochemicals Ltd (+16.18%)

MRPL surged to a new 52-week high on the back of massive trading volume, which was over ten times its 20-day average. This rally was driven by strong buying interest in refinery stocks, which outperformed the broader, weaker Oil & Gas sector. The breakout on such high volume indicates strong momentum and positive investor sentiment towards the refining space.

ITI Ltd (+13.84%)

ITI Ltd rallied sharply on exceptionally high trading volume of over 9 crore shares. With no specific corporate announcements, the surge appears to be driven by strong technical momentum and speculative interest from traders. The stock was among the top gainers from the morning session, attracting significant participation.

Tejas Networks Ltd (+5.44%)

Tejas Networks gained significantly with trading volume of over 3 crore shares, much higher than its recent average. The buying interest propelled the stock upwards, suggesting positive investor sentiment towards the telecom equipment manufacturer despite broader weakness in the IT sector.

Zydus Wellness Ltd (+5.00%)

The stock climbed 5% on high volume, moving against the negative trend in the broader healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. This outperformance suggests stock-specific buying interest, possibly driven by an internal development or a positive outlook not yet public. The high traded value underscores the strong investor participation.

Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (+7.70%)

Similar to MRPL, Chennai Petroleum Corporation rallied as part of a strong thematic move in refinery stocks. Investors showed keen interest in the sector, pushing the stock up by over 7% on robust volume. This sector-specific momentum allowed it to defy the negative trend seen in the broader energy index.

Market Overview

The Indian stock market closed with strong gains, driven by a sharp recovery in the final hours of trade. The Sensex surged 1.26% to 75,502.85, while the Nifty 50 climbed 1.11% to 23,408.80. The rally was largely powered by heavyweight banking and auto stocks, with the Nifty Bank and Nifty Auto indices rising 1.22% and 1.67% respectively.

Despite the headline gains, the overall market health was poor, as indicated by the advance-decline ratio where decliners outnumbered advancers by more than two to one. This divergence highlights that buying was concentrated in large-cap stocks, while mid and small-cap segments remained under pressure. Sectorally, Oil & Gas, Pharma, and IT indices were the top losers, shedding over 1% each. Volatility eased, with the India VIX index falling over 4%.

Explore More Market Movers

Readers can explore the complete list of market movers here:

https://www.multibagg.ai/market-movers/top-gainers