Top Traded by Value Today 24-Mar-2026: Most Active Stocks

Introduction

The Indian stock market witnessed a sharp sell-off on Tuesday, with the Nifty 50 plummeting 601 points (-2.60%) to close at 22,512.65, while the BSE Sensex tumbled 1,836 points (-2.46%) to settle at 72,696.39. Market breadth was overwhelmingly negative, with an advance-decline ratio of 3 to 46 on the Nifty 50, reflecting widespread selling pressure. Banking and financial stocks dominated the value charts, with significant trading activity seen in HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, despite a sharp fall in the broader banking indices. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have reportedly been net sellers, pulling out approximately $1.57 billion in March.

Large Cap Top Traded by Value

HDFC Bank Ltd (+2.88%)

Shares of HDFC Bank saw heavy trading and snapped a four-day losing streak after the board announced the appointment of external law firms to review the former chairman's resignation letter. This move was perceived by investors as a positive step towards enhancing corporate governance and transparency, which had been under scrutiny. The stock rallied on high volume of 6.41 crore shares, indicating a relief rally as investors bought into the lender after a recent 12% correction.

State Bank of India (-0.09%)

State Bank of India was among the most traded stocks but closed nearly flat, showing resilience amidst a sharp sell-off in the Nifty PSU Bank index, which fell over 4%. The high trading volume of 3.22 crore shares without a significant price drop suggests that buying interest absorbed the selling pressure stemming from the weak market sentiment. The activity reflects the stock's bellwether status, attracting significant institutional interest during a volatile session.

Adani Enterprises Ltd (-0.73%)

Adani Enterprises witnessed high trading volume amid key legal developments concerning its resolution plan for Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL). The NCLAT's refusal to stay the implementation of its ₹14,543 crore plan was a positive trigger, but it was countered by Vedanta challenging the bid's approval. This conflicting news flow created uncertainty, leading to active trading as the stock hit a new 52-week low, which likely prompted both selling and value buying.

Reliance Industries Ltd (+0.30%)

Reliance Industries ended with marginal gains, significantly outperforming the broader market which fell over 2.5%. With no major company-specific news, the stock's high trading volume of 1.91 crore shares indicates its role as a defensive heavyweight during a market-wide correction. Institutional investors likely reallocated funds to the stable blue-chip, contributing to its high traded value and relative price stability.

ICICI Bank Ltd (+2.38%)

ICICI Bank was another private sector lender that saw strong buying interest and high trading volumes, closing with robust gains. Despite a sharp fall in the Nifty Bank index, the stock attracted investors who likely saw value after recent market corrections. The positive divergence from the sector index on a high volume of 2.12 crore shares points to strong stock-specific institutional accumulation.

Mid Cap Top Traded by Value

Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (+4.49%)

Multi Commodity Exchange rallied significantly in a weak market, accompanied by high trading volumes. As a key market infrastructure institution, the company likely benefited from investor expectations of increased hedging and speculative activity in commodities. The heightened geopolitical tensions mentioned in the market context often drive volatility in commodity prices, which in turn boosts trading volumes on the exchange, improving its revenue prospects.

Lodha Developers Ltd (-0.27%)

Lodha Developers demonstrated notable resilience, closing almost unchanged despite the Nifty Realty index plunging by 4.74%. The high traded value and volume of 1.18 crore shares suggest a strong support level where buying interest emerged to counter sector-wide selling pressure. This outperformance indicates investor confidence in the company's specific fundamentals over broader sector concerns.

Dixon Technologies (India) Ltd (+2.88%)

Dixon Technologies gained nearly 3% on a day of widespread market declines, backed by substantial trading activity. The move suggests strong stock-specific buying interest, potentially driven by positive outlook on the electronics manufacturing and PLI scheme benefits. Investors appeared to favour the contract manufacturer for its growth prospects, ignoring the broader negative market sentiment.

Waaree Energies Ltd (+0.74%)

Waaree Energies closed with modest gains, outperforming the market on a day of risk-off sentiment. The high trading interest in the solar energy player can be attributed to its positioning within the renewable energy theme, which remains a long-term structural growth story. Investors likely accumulated the stock for its defensive, high-growth characteristics amid market uncertainty.

Hindustan Copper Ltd (+3.19%)

Hindustan Copper surged over 3%, strongly bucking the trend of the Nifty Metal index, which fell sharply by 4.81%. This significant outperformance on high volume of 1.22 crore shares points to a stock-specific catalyst, possibly linked to a positive outlook on copper prices or government's continued focus on PSU companies. The buying momentum completely overshadowed the negative sentiment in the broader metals pack.

Small Cap Top Traded by Value

Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals Ltd (+1.95%)

Gujarat Alkalies saw exceptionally high trading volume of 5.87 crore shares, continuing its recent upward momentum. The stock's activity is likely a follow-through from recent promoter stake purchases, which has boosted investor confidence. Despite the Nifty Chemicals index falling over 3%, the stock's positive close highlights strong buying interest and its resilience against sectoral headwinds.

BLS International Services Ltd (+17.83%)

BLS International surged dramatically by nearly 18% on massive trading volume of 9.07 crore shares. This extraordinary price and volume action, in the absence of any immediate public announcement, suggests a significant market event such as a large block deal or strong institutional buying based on an unannounced positive development. The scale of the move made it one of the day's standout performers.

NOCIL Ltd (+1.94%)

NOCIL witnessed unusually high trading volume of 8.74 crore shares while closing with gains of nearly 2%. As a specialty chemical manufacturer, its ability to defy the sharp downturn in the broader chemical sector points to strong, focused buying. This level of activity often indicates accumulation by large investors or significant trading interest based on the company's specific prospects.

JBM Auto Ltd (+6.37%)

JBM Auto rallied over 6% on strong volumes, showing remarkable strength when the Nifty Auto index was down more than 3%. This outperformance suggests investors are betting on company-specific growth drivers, such as its prominent position in the electric bus segment. The market is likely anticipating new order wins or positive developments, leading to aggressive buying.

Tejas Networks Ltd (+4.97%)

Tejas Networks climbed almost 5% on robust trading volume, indicating strong investor interest in the telecom equipment manufacturer. The rally is likely fueled by the ongoing 5G rollout and the government's 'Make in India' initiative, which positions domestic players like Tejas to win significant contracts. Investors are accumulating the stock in anticipation of a strong order pipeline.

Market Overview

The Indian equity markets experienced a severe downturn on Tuesday, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East which fueled economic uncertainty. The BSE Sensex closed at 72,696.39, down 1,836 points or 2.46%, while the Nifty 50 ended at 22,512.65, a loss of 601 points or 2.60%. The sell-off was broad-based, with nearly all sectoral indices ending in the red. The Nifty Realty (-4.74%), Metal (-4.81%), and PSU Bank (-4.11%) indices were among the hardest hit.

The market breadth was extremely weak, with only 3 stocks advancing against 46 declining in the Nifty 50 index. The negative sentiment was compounded by reports of significant FII outflows, with foreign investors having pulled out an estimated $1.57 billion in March. The India VIX, a measure of market volatility, surged by 17.17% to 26.73, indicating heightened fear among investors.

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