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

Indian benchmark indices closed higher on March 16, 2026, driven by gains in banking and auto stocks, though the broader market sentiment remained weak. The Nifty 50 gained 262 points (1.14%) to close at 23,413, while the Sensex surged 926 points (1.24%) to settle at 75,490. Market breadth was negative, with 1,305 shares advancing against 2,693 declining, indicating that the rally was concentrated in large-cap stocks.

Large Cap Top Traded by Volume

Vodafone Idea Ltd (+1.51%) The telecom operator's stock was the most traded counter after a report indicated fresh investor interest from JSW and ST Telemedia. This news sparked optimism among investors regarding a potential capital infusion or strategic partnership, which is crucial for the company's revival plans. The stock saw trading volume of over 57 crore shares.

Adani Power Ltd (+5.04%) Shares of Adani Power surged following the announcement that it has secured a major power supply agreement with the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL). The company received a Letter of Award to supply 1,600 MW of thermal power for 25 years, a development that significantly improves its long-term revenue visibility and prompted strong buying interest.

Eternal Ltd (+2.80%) Eternal Ltd was among the most actively traded large-cap stocks, gaining nearly 3% on high volumes. The price move was supported by broad-based buying in select large-cap counters, as benchmark indices posted strong gains for the day.

HDFC Bank Ltd (+2.88%) The stock gained amid a strong rally in the banking sector, which was one of the day's top performers. As a heavyweight in the Nifty Bank index, HDFC Bank attracted significant investor interest and high trading volumes, contributing substantially to the market's upward move.

Tata Steel Ltd (+2.04%) Tata Steel saw robust trading activity, with over 4.6 crore shares changing hands, helping the stock close with gains of over 2%. The buying interest in the blue-chip counter was part of a broader trend where investors focused on large-cap names, leading to a rally in the headline indices.

Mid Cap Top Traded by Volume

Yes Bank Ltd (-1.38%) Yes Bank was the most active mid-cap stock with over 13 crore shares traded, but it closed in the red. The stock faced selling pressure despite the high volume, continuing its recent downtrend as technical indicators suggest a bearish sentiment.

IDBI Bank Ltd (-16.49%) IDBI Bank shares crashed after the government cancelled its planned disinvestment of a majority stake in the lender. Reports indicated that the bids received were below the government's expected valuation, leading to the process being scrapped. This negative development triggered a massive sell-off from investors who were anticipating a privatization-led value unlocking.

Suzlon Energy Ltd (-0.94%) The renewable energy stock was heavily traded with over 8.5 crore shares exchanged during the session. However, the stock failed to attract net buying interest and closed with a marginal loss, indicating profit-booking at higher levels.

IDFC First Bank Ltd (+0.48%) The stock saw high trading volumes and ended the day with a modest gain. It likely benefited from the overall positive sentiment in the private banking sector, which was one of the leading sectoral gainers of the day.

NTPC Green Energy Ltd (+0.60%) NTPC Green Energy was among the most active mid-cap stocks, closing with a slight gain on significant volume. The trading activity reflects continued investor interest in the renewable energy sector, even as the broader market showed mixed trends.

Small Cap Top Traded by Volume

Mangalore Refinery And Petrochemicals Ltd (+16.18%) MRPL shares surged over 16% in a massive breakout rally, accompanied by exceptionally high trading volume of nearly 15 crore shares. This volume was significantly higher than its recent average, indicating a strong accumulation that pushed the stock price towards its 52-week high.

ITI Ltd (+13.84%) ITI Ltd was another small-cap stock that witnessed a sharp rally, climbing almost 14% for the day. The price surge was backed by robust trading volumes of over 9 crore shares, suggesting strong bullish momentum from market participants.

Ola Electric Mobility Ltd (+5.28%) Shares of Ola Electric gained over 5% on the back of high trading volumes. The stock's positive movement was supported by strong performance in the broader auto sector, which emerged as one of the top-gaining indices of the day.

SEPC Ltd (-5.47%) Despite being one of the most actively traded small-cap stocks, SEPC Ltd came under intense selling pressure. The stock closed over 5% lower, indicating that high volumes were driven by sellers offloading their positions.

Reliance Power Ltd (+0.72%) Reliance Power was a high-volume counter in the small-cap segment, with over 5.6 crore shares traded. However, the stock closed with only a marginal gain, suggesting that buying and selling pressures were largely balanced throughout the session.

Market Overview

Indian markets closed with strong gains on March 16, with the Sensex and Nifty 50 rising over 1.2% each. The rally was primarily led by heavyweight banking, auto, and cement stocks. However, the market breadth was weak, with nearly two shares declining for every one that advanced, indicating that the positive sentiment was not widespread and was concentrated in large-cap stocks. Broader markets underperformed, with the Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices closing with losses.

Sectorally, the Nifty Auto and Nifty Private Bank indices were the top performers, gaining 1.91% and 1.21% respectively. On the other hand, Nifty Oil & Gas and Nifty Pharma were the biggest laggards, falling 1.33% and 1.77%. Volatility eased as the India VIX index fell by 4.37% to 21.66, providing some comfort to the market after a period of heightened uncertainty.

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