Top Traded by Value Today 20-Mar-2026: Most Active Stocks
Indian equity markets staged a strong rebound on Friday, with the Nifty 50 climbing over 240 points to close near 23,250 and the Sensex gaining more than 760 points to finish around 74,970. Market breadth was firmly positive, with approximately two shares advancing for every one that declined on the exchanges. The rally was led by strong buying in IT, Metals, and Oil & Gas sectors, while some private banking stocks faced headwinds.
Large Cap Top Traded by Value
HDFC Bank Ltd (-2.41%)
HDFC Bank was the most actively traded stock by value, closing lower amid massive volumes. The selling pressure was a direct reaction to the news of part-time chairman Atanu Chakraborty's resignation, which spooked investors and led to a significant erosion in market capitalization. The event triggered a sharp fall in the stock, continuing its recent underperformance.
Infosys Ltd (+2.78%)
Infosys saw heavy trading and a price surge following positive cues for the IT sector. The rally was triggered after global IT services giant Accenture raised its growth guidance, which investors interpreted as a sign of improving demand for technology services. This news created a strong tailwind for Indian IT stocks, with Infosys being a key beneficiary.
Reliance Industries Ltd (+2.11%)
Reliance Industries was a key driver of the market's rebound, gaining over 2% on high trading value. The stock's outperformance was fueled by broad-based buying in the heavyweight counter, which helped lift the benchmark indices. The strong volume indicates significant institutional interest in the stock amid a recovery in the broader market.
Shriram Finance Ltd (-0.82%)
Shriram Finance featured among the most active stocks as it continued to face selling pressure. The high trading value was a carry-over from the previous session's sharp 7% fall, which was triggered by investor fears over potential RBI regulations on tenure and compensation for senior management at large NBFCs.
ICICI Bank Ltd (-0.42%)
ICICI Bank witnessed high trading volumes and closed with a marginal loss due to multiple negative triggers. The bank received a GST demand notice for approximately ₹769 crore, and reports emerged that its joint venture partner, Prudential Plc, was considering an exit from the ICICI Prudential Life insurance business. These developments weighed on investor sentiment, leading to active trading in the stock.
Mid Cap Top Traded by Value
Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (-4.51%)
MCX was the most actively traded mid-cap stock by value, closing with a steep loss of over 4.5%. The counter witnessed heavy selling pressure throughout the session, as indicated by the significant trading volume, leading to a sharp decline in its share price.
National Aluminium Company Ltd (-2.35%)
National Aluminium was among the top traded stocks but ended in the red, underperforming the broader metals sector which saw buying interest. The high volume combined with the price drop suggests profit-taking or stock-specific concerns that overshadowed the positive sectoral sentiment.
Swiggy Ltd (-0.16%)
Swiggy saw very high trading volumes, making it one of the most active counters in the mid-cap space. The stock closed nearly unchanged, indicating a day of consolidation where significant buying and selling activity occurred without a clear directional trend.
AU Small Finance Bank Ltd (-0.32%)
AU Small Finance Bank was actively traded and closed with a minor loss. The stock's movement reflected the subdued sentiment seen across the private banking space, which lagged the broader market's rally.
Mangalore Refinery And Petrochemicals Ltd (+3.46%)
MRPL rallied over 3% on the back of strong trading volumes. The stock gained as positive sentiment swept across oil marketing and refining companies, driven by easing crude oil prices which are beneficial for their margins.
Small Cap Top Traded by Value
Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (+7.55%)
GMDC surged over 7% with exceptionally high trading volumes. The strong upward move was likely fueled by renewed investor interest in the mining sector, which benefited from the positive momentum in commodity-linked stocks.
Brainbees Solutions Ltd (+19.99%)
Brainbees Solutions was locked in the 20% upper circuit amid massive trading volumes. The stock witnessed overwhelming buying demand that absorbed all available sell orders, leading to a maximum possible single-day gain.
Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals Ltd (+10.59%)
Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals rallied more than 10% on strong trading value. The sharp price increase, backed by high volumes, suggests a significant breakout and strong accumulation by investors during the session.
Happiest Minds Technologies Ltd (+10.70%)
Happiest Minds Technologies jumped over 10%, driven by the positive sentiment across the IT sector. The stock benefited from the ripple effect of Accenture's upgraded growth forecast, which boosted investor confidence in the growth prospects of technology companies.
Inox Green Energy Services Ltd (+7.38%)
Inox Green Energy Services gained over 7% with very high trading volumes of more than 7 crore shares. This indicates strong bullish momentum and heightened investor participation, driving the stock price significantly higher.
Market Overview
The Indian stock market closed with strong gains on Friday, snapping a losing streak. The Sensex surged 1.03% to 74,970, while the Nifty 50 advanced 1.07% to close at 23,248. The market's recovery was broad-based, with the advance-decline ratio strongly in favor of advancers, indicating widespread buying across segments.
Sector-wise, the Nifty IT, Metal, and Oil & Gas indices were the top performers, each gaining over 2%. PSU Banks also continued their outperformance. However, the Nifty Private Bank index ended marginally lower, dragged down by weakness in heavyweights like HDFC Bank. The overall positive sentiment was supported by value buying after the recent correction and positive global cues.
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