Top Traded by Value Today 18-Mar-2026: Most Active Stocks

Indian equity benchmarks surged on Wednesday, extending gains for the third consecutive session, driven by a broad-based rally. The Nifty 50 closed up 197 points (+0.83%) at 23,777.80, while the Sensex gained 633 points (+0.83%) to settle at 76,704.13. Market breadth was strong, with about 3,038 shares advancing against 849 declining. The rally was led by strong buying in IT, Auto, and Realty stocks, while volatility eased as the India VIX index cooled down.

Large Cap Top Traded by Value

HDFC Bank Ltd (-0.34%)

HDFC Bank was the most traded stock by value, though it closed marginally lower. The high volume reflects significant investor activity driven by conflicting factors: while the stock has been an underperformer recently, several brokerages including Nuvama and Emkay have reiterated their positive long-term outlook, citing improving credit growth. This led to active trading as investors weighed the stock's beaten-down valuation against its fundamental strengths.

Larsen & Toubro Ltd (+1.75%)

Larsen & Toubro saw high trading activity and a positive close, supported by a broader market rally in infrastructure and capital goods stocks. Positive sentiment from brokerages, such as Motilal Oswal's 'buy' rating, also contributed to investor interest. The stock's movement was in line with the strong performance of the Nifty Infra index, which gained during the session.

Eternal Ltd (+3.37%)

The stock surged with high trading volumes after Kotak Securities added it to its model portfolio. The brokerage's bullish stance, projecting a potential upside of up to 70%, acted as a major catalyst. This positive analyst action triggered strong buying interest from investors, making it one of the most active counters.

ICICI Bank Ltd (+0.08%)

As a heavyweight in the banking sector, ICICI Bank witnessed high trading volumes typical for a benchmark constituent on a positive market day. The stock closed flat, indicating a balance between buying and selling pressures. Its activity was largely driven by its high liquidity and participation in the Nifty Bank index, which ended the day with gains.

Infosys Ltd (+2.84%)

Infosys rallied on the back of a strong, sector-wide upmove in IT stocks, with the Nifty IT index surging nearly 2.8%. The buying momentum was further supported by positive commentary from CLSA, which maintained an 'outperform' rating on the stock. This combination of sector tailwinds and favorable analyst views fueled the increase in price and trading value.

Mid Cap Top Traded by Value

Waaree Energies Ltd (+10.56%)

Waaree Energies surged following the company's announcement that its subsidiary had completed the acquisition of preferred shares in United Solar Holding Inc. for approximately $10 million. This strategic investment boosted investor confidence in the company's growth prospects, leading to a sharp rally on high trading volumes.

Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (-2.54%)

Despite being one of the most actively traded mid-cap stocks, MCX faced selling pressure and closed in the red. The high volume coupled with a price decline suggests profit-taking or investor concerns that outweighed the broader market's positive sentiment.

Dixon Technologies (India) Ltd (+4.25%)

Dixon Technologies gained amidst a strong, broad-based market rally that favored mid-cap stocks. As a key player in the electronics manufacturing sector, the stock benefited from positive investor sentiment towards India's manufacturing growth story, attracting significant trading interest.

Coforge Ltd (+5.42%)

Coforge rallied as part of the strong upward trend in the IT sector. The stock's momentum was further bolstered by positive analyst sentiment, with CLSA naming Coforge as a 'High Conviction' pick. This combination of sector-wide buying and specific favorable commentary drove the stock higher on robust volumes.

Hindustan Copper Ltd (-0.81%)

Hindustan Copper was actively traded but ended with losses, diverging from the Nifty Metal index which closed positive. The stock-specific selling pressure indicates that investors were booking profits or reacting to factors unique to the company, which overshadowed the positive momentum in the broader metals sector.

Small Cap Top Traded by Value

JBM Auto Ltd (+18.89%)

JBM Auto skyrocketed on the back of a sector-wide rally in electric mobility stocks. The surge was accompanied by exceptionally high trading volumes, which were significantly above the 20-day average. This indicates strong thematic buying interest from investors looking to capitalize on the growth potential of the EV sector.

Urban Company Ltd (+10.33%)

Urban Company shares rallied after it was reported that SBI Mutual Fund acquired an additional stake in the company. This institutional buying, which increased SBI MF's holding to 3.98%, served as a strong positive trigger, boosting retail investor confidence and driving up both price and volume.

Asahi India Glass Ltd (+2.95%)

Asahi India Glass gained in line with the positive momentum seen in the broader auto sector, a key end-user industry for the company. The strong performance of the Nifty Auto index created a favorable tailwind, leading to increased buying interest in auto ancillary stocks like Asahi India.

Olectra Greentech Ltd (+17.13%)

Olectra Greentech was another major gainer in the electric mobility space, rallying in tandem with JBM Auto. The stock's sharp up-move was part of a strong thematic buying trend across EV-related companies, fueled by positive investor sentiment towards the sector's future prospects.

MMTC Ltd (+18.65%)

MMTC surged on the back of a massive spike in trading volume. The stock hit its upper circuit, driven by strong speculative buying momentum. Such sharp movements on high volumes are characteristic of the stock, attracting traders looking for short-term gains.

Market Overview

The Indian stock market closed with robust gains for the third straight day, with the Sensex rising 633 points to 76,704.13 and the Nifty 50 advancing 197 points to 23,777.80. The rally was broad-based, as indicated by the positive advance-decline ratio and the outperformance of mid-cap and small-cap indices. Volatility eased significantly, with the India VIX index falling nearly 5%.

Sectorally, IT stocks were the star performers, with the Nifty IT index jumping 2.78%. Auto and Realty sectors also witnessed strong buying interest, gaining nearly 2% each. On the macro front, the Indian Rupee touched a record low of 92.63 against the US dollar, a development closely watched by market participants.

Explore More Market Movers

Readers can explore the complete list of market movers here:

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