Top Traded by Volume Today 26-Aug-2026: NSE Action
Introduction
Nifty 50 closed at 24,304.45 (-0.12%) on 26 Aug 2026, while Sensex ended higher at 77,859.49 (+0.26%), showing a split session where banks outperformed even as the broader index slipped. Bank Nifty rose to 57,934.10 (+0.73%) as PSU banks led sectoral gains, with NIFTY PSU Bank up 1.71% and NIFTY Fin Service up 0.77% in the data provided. The most active counters by volume were concentrated in high-beta telecom and retail-driven small caps, alongside PSU banks and metal names. FII and DII flow data was not available in the provided market context.
Large Cap Top Traded by Volume
Vodafone Idea Ltd (-0.99%) Vodafone Idea stayed the top traded stock by volume after the previous session’s sharp move linked in the provided context to reports on SBI funding progress and renewed focus on tariff-hike expectations. Investors continued to churn positions near the stock’s 52-week high zone (52W high 15.37 versus day high 15.37), which typically increases two-way trade and short-term profit-taking. The stock ended marginally lower even as volumes remained extremely elevated at 50.09 crore shares.
Billionbrains Garage Ventures Ltd (-3.35%) Billionbrains Garage Ventures saw heavy turnover as the stock corrected after a strong prior-session indication shown in the provided tape (25 Aug pre-open up 3.33%), pointing to profit-taking and reversal trades. With no fresh company-specific trigger in the supplied inputs, the fall alongside very high volume suggests position unwinding after a recent run-up within its 52-week range (112.02 to 227.00). The counter logged 20.44 crore shares in volume, keeping it among the most active names.
Eternal Ltd (+0.55%) Eternal traded actively and edged up as investors rotated into liquid large caps despite a mildly negative Nifty close. In the absence of a specific news trigger in the provided feed, the small gain with 4.17 crore shares indicates steady accumulation and intraday trading interest. The stock remains below its 52-week high of 368.40, which also kept breakout-driven activity limited.
Tata Steel Ltd (+1.10%) Tata Steel rose on a day when metal-linked names in the active list also advanced, with the mid-cap list showing strength in Steel Authority of India and Hindustan Copper. The move indicates sector-led buying in metals, often supported by expectations of better realisations when the broader market is mixed but cyclicals attract flows. Volumes of 3.33 crore shares kept Tata Steel among the most traded large caps.
Varun Beverages Ltd (-3.68%) Varun Beverages declined sharply with high volume, a pattern that typically reflects profit-taking after prior moves rather than fresh positive news, since no catalyst was provided in the inputs. The stock’s fall also stood out against the day’s bank-led strength, suggesting investors rotated away from consumer discretionary exposure. Trading activity remained heavy at 3.21 crore shares.
Mid Cap Top Traded by Volume
Hindustan Copper Ltd (+4.38%) Hindustan Copper rallied with strong volumes as metals outperformed within the day’s active counters, also reflected by gains in Tata Steel and SAIL. With no stock-specific headline supplied, the move reads as sector-led participation in metal names, where traders typically respond to momentum and commodity-linked positioning. Volume stood at 6.07 crore shares, signalling broad participation.
IDBI Bank Ltd (+7.65%) IDBI Bank surged on a session where banking outperformance was clearly visible in the index tape, with Bank Nifty up 0.73% and NIFTY PSU Bank up 1.71%. Investors chased PSU bank exposure through liquid names, which amplified both the price move and the trading volume. The stock saw 6.02 crore shares change hands.
Bank of Maharashtra (+4.81%) Bank of Maharashtra rose in line with the PSU bank rally indicated in the sectoral index performance (NIFTY PSU Bank +1.71%). The higher close suggests investors preferred PSU lenders as a defensive-cyclical mix on a day when the broader Nifty was slightly negative. Volumes were elevated at 5.90 crore shares.
Yes Bank Ltd (-0.49%) Yes Bank slipped even as the banking complex was strong, indicating stock-specific profit-taking and rotation into PSU bank leaders visible in today’s sector tape. With no fresh Yes Bank headline in the provided inputs, the mild decline alongside heavy volume points to active two-way trade rather than a fundamental trigger. The counter remained highly active at 5.75 crore shares.
Steel Authority of India Ltd (+5.75%) SAIL jumped sharply as metal stocks featured prominently among gainers within the most-traded list, alongside Tata Steel and Hindustan Copper. The move suggests traders built cyclical exposure in steel and related metals even as benchmark performance was mixed. Volume of 4.58 crore shares reinforced the momentum.
Small Cap Top Traded by Volume
PC Jeweller Ltd (+2.09%) PC Jeweller remained one of the most active small caps as the stock extended its recent upmove cited in the provided context (up 15.6% in the last 7 days), keeping traders engaged. With no fresh company announcement supplied, the gain appears driven by momentum positioning, aided by the stock trading above its referenced 50-day and 200-day moving averages in the context. Volume was exceptionally high at 46.48 crore shares.
Viyash Scientific Ltd (-5.37%) Viyash Scientific dropped after more than 10% of the company’s equity reportedly changed hands in block deals worth about Rs 1,390 crore, as stated in the provided context. Such large block transactions typically bring supply to the market, leading to a price decline as buyers demand a discount to absorb size. The stock still saw massive participation, with 12.61 crore shares traded.
Ola Electric Mobility Ltd (+4.74%) Ola Electric climbed after the provided context flagged an announcement around securing Production Linked Incentive certification for its Gen 3 scooter portfolio, which makes it eligible for incentives until 2028. Investors reacted because eligibility for PLI incentives can improve unit economics, supporting the stock despite its volatile longer-term trend. The counter logged 10.16 crore shares, underscoring strong retail and trading interest.
Sagility Ltd (+2.39%) Sagility rose and stayed highly traded, also referenced in the provided tape as one of the most active counters by volume. With no separate company-specific development supplied, the price gain alongside heavy turnover suggests momentum-led buying and intraday participation. Volumes were strong at 10.02 crore shares.
Vedanta Oil and Gas Ltd (+5.57%) Vedanta Oil and Gas advanced strongly with high volume, indicating aggressive buying interest in the counter even as benchmarks were mixed. In the absence of a specific headline in the provided inputs, the move appears to be driven by trading momentum, supported by the stock moving closer to its 52-week high zone (47.67). Volume stood at 9.32 crore shares.
Market Overview
Benchmark indices ended mixed on Wednesday. As per the provided market snapshot, Nifty 50 closed at 24,304.45 (-0.12%) while Sensex finished at 77,859.49 (+0.26%); Bank Nifty outperformed at 57,934.10 (+0.73%). India VIX declined to 10.86 (-1.99%), pointing to lower implied volatility even as stock-specific action stayed intense in high-volume counters.
Sectoral performance in the supplied data showed clear leadership from financials, particularly PSU banks. NIFTY PSU Bank rose 1.71% and NIFTY Fin Service gained 0.77%, aligning with sharp moves in mid-cap lenders such as IDBI Bank and Bank of Maharashtra. IT was weak (NIFTY IT -0.31%), which matched the session’s rotation toward banks and cyclicals rather than defensives.
On the activity front, the day’s tape was dominated by a handful of extremely high-volume names. Vodafone Idea (50.09 crore shares) and PC Jeweller (46.48 crore shares) accounted for a large share of the day’s retail-driven churn, while Viyash Scientific’s decline was tied to large block deals, and Ola Electric’s gain tracked a policy-linked PLI certification catalyst highlighted in the context.
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