Top Traded by Volume Today 19-Mar-2026: Most Active Stocks
Indian markets witnessed a volatile session on March 19, 2026, with high trading volumes dominating the day's activity. A sharp sell-off in heavyweight banking stocks, triggered by negative news from HDFC Bank, weighed on the broader indices. The telecom sector also saw significant investor participation, with Vodafone Idea emerging as one of the most traded stocks. Amidst the market weakness, select power and gas stocks bucked the trend, attracting strong volumes on positive triggers.
Large Cap Top Traded by Volume
HDFC Bank Ltd (-5.13%) Shares of HDFC Bank plunged on exceptionally high trading volume following the sudden resignation of its part-time chairman, Atanu Chakraborty. News reports suggesting the exit may have stemmed from a rift with management triggered widespread investor concern over the bank's governance. The event led to a massive sell-off, wiping out approximately Rs 56,000 crore in market capitalization and dragging the entire Bank Nifty index down.
Eternal Ltd (-5.65%) The stock declined after the company announced it had received two GST adjudication orders from Gurugram and Ranchi authorities. The orders demand a combined GST payment of nearly Rs 11 crore plus penalties and interest. This news prompted a negative reaction from investors, overshadowing recent positive brokerage reports and leading to a sharp fall in the share price on high volume.
Tata Steel Ltd (-2.43%) Tata Steel shares fell amid a broader market downturn and profit-booking in the metal sector. With no specific negative news for the company, the stock's movement was largely influenced by the weak market sentiment following the sharp correction in banking heavyweights. The high trading volume indicates active selling pressure as investors moved to reduce risk.
Oil & Natural Gas Corpn Ltd (+1.60%) ONGC rallied against the market trend after reports of crude oil prices surging past the $100 per barrel mark. As a major upstream oil producer, higher crude prices directly benefit ONGC by improving its revenue and profit margins from oil exploration and production. The stock's gain on high volume suggests investors were buying into the company as a direct beneficiary of rising global energy prices.
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (-3.91%) Shares of IOCL dropped significantly as rising international crude oil prices raised concerns about pressure on the company's marketing margins. As an oil marketing company, a sharp increase in input costs can hurt profitability if the price hike is not fully passed on to consumers. The high trading volume reflects investor anxiety over the potential impact of expensive crude on the company's financial performance.
Mid Cap Top Traded by Volume
Vodafone Idea Ltd (-5.40%) Vodafone Idea was the most traded stock of the day by a large margin, closing with a significant loss. The stock came under heavy selling pressure amid broad market weakness and persistent concerns over the company's financial health. The massive trading volume indicates a large-scale exit by traders and investors as negative sentiment prevailed in the market.
Yes Bank Ltd (-2.90%) Yes Bank shares declined in line with the broader sell-off seen across the banking sector. The negative sentiment was primarily triggered by the management turmoil at HDFC Bank, which prompted investors to reduce their exposure to banking stocks. Yes Bank, being a high-volume counter, saw significant trading activity as it mirrored the weakness in the Bank Nifty index.
Suzlon Energy Ltd (-2.33%) Suzlon Energy witnessed profit-booking amid a risk-off sentiment in the broader market. The stock, which has been a strong performer, succumbed to selling pressure as investors chose to lock in gains. The high trading volume suggests an active session where sellers had the upper hand, pushing the stock price lower.
Adani Total Gas Ltd (+7.69%) Adani Total Gas was a standout performer, surging nearly 8% in a weak market. While there was no specific company announcement, the stock saw a significant spurt in price and volume, indicating strong buying interest. This rally could be attributed to positive sentiment surrounding the Adani Group or a sector-specific tailwind, allowing it to defy the broader market's negative trend.
NTPC Green Energy Ltd (+0.96%) NTPC Green Energy showed resilience by closing with modest gains on a day of widespread market declines. The stock saw high trading volumes, suggesting continued investor interest in the renewable energy space. The ability to close in the green reflects underlying strength and investor confidence in the company's growth prospects despite market volatility.
Small Cap Top Traded by Volume
Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd (+11.67%) Jaiprakash Power Ventures surged over 11% on massive trading volumes. The rally was triggered by the NCLT's oral approval of Adani Enterprises' resolution plan for its promoter company, Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL). Investors perceived this development as a positive step towards resolving the uncertainty surrounding the promoter group, leading to a strong sentimental rally in JP Power's stock.
Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals Ltd (+12.80%) The stock jumped nearly 13% on the back of unusually high trading volume. In the absence of any specific news or corporate announcement, the sharp upward move suggests a strong technical breakout. The high volume indicates significant buying interest from market participants, which propelled the stock to be one of the top gainers in the small-cap segment.
Ola Electric Mobility Ltd (-5.51%) Shares of Ola Electric Mobility declined sharply amid high trading volumes. The sell-off in the stock was part of the broader market weakness and potential profit-taking in the high-growth EV sector. The significant volume accompanying the price drop indicates that sellers were in control throughout the session.
ITI Ltd (+3.26%) ITI Ltd closed with gains of over 3% along with a substantial increase in trading volume. The stock's positive performance in a weak market suggests strong buying momentum. This could be driven by sector-specific developments or investor anticipation of positive news, leading to accumulation at current levels.
Reliance Power Ltd (-4.05%) Reliance Power shares fell over 4% as the stock witnessed selling pressure in line with the negative market sentiment. The high trading volume indicates that many investors chose to exit their positions amid the market's risk-off mood. The stock, being a high-beta counter, is often susceptible to sharp moves during periods of market volatility.
Market Overview
Indian equity markets faced significant selling pressure on March 19, primarily dragged down by the banking sector. The session was marked by high trading volumes as investors reacted to key domestic developments. The primary catalyst for the downturn was the unexpected resignation of HDFC Bank's chairman, which triggered a nearly 5% crash in the heavyweight stock and caused the Bank Nifty index to fall by approximately 3%.
This event created a ripple effect across the financial space, with most banking stocks closing in the red. Adding to the market's concerns were rising global crude oil prices, which climbed above $100 a barrel. This supported upstream oil producers like ONGC but weighed heavily on oil marketing companies such as IOCL and BPCL due to fears of margin compression. While banking and financials bore the brunt of the selling, sectors like telecom and power saw heightened activity, with stocks like Vodafone Idea and Jaiprakash Power Ventures topping the volume charts due to company-specific factors.
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