These 20 stocks led India’s Rs 26 lakh crore trading frenzy on April 8—Here’s what you need to know

Indian stock markets snapped a three-day losing streak on April 8, 2025, as global tailwinds and domestic optimism converged to trigger a broad-based rally across frontline indices. The BSE Sensex surged 1.49% or 1,089 points to close at 74,227.08, while the NSE Nifty 50 advanced by 1.69%, adding 374 points to settle at 22,535.85. This marked one of the strongest single-day gains in weeks, offering relief to investors rattled by recent global trade shocks and persistent inflationary concerns.

Among the major market movers, HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries, Zomato, and Infosys stood out as the most active stocks by trading volume and value. The day’s total equity turnover reflected intense investor participation, with some ₹26 lakh crore worth of transactions recorded across India’s main stock exchanges. Analysts noted a clear return of risk appetite driven by clarity on global tariffs, improving foreign sentiment, and expectations of a dovish monetary policy stance from the Reserve Bank of India.

Why were HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries, and Infosys among the most traded Indian stocks?

India’s most valuable lender, HDFC Bank, led trading activity by value on April 8. The stock opened at ₹1,765 and moved in a tight range between ₹1,750.30 and ₹1,782 before closing at ₹1,770.15—up 0.71% from the previous session. With over 1.77 crore shares changing hands and a trading value exceeding ₹3.14 lakh crore, the private sector bank continues to remain a core institutional holding amid expectations of strong quarterly earnings and loan book expansion.

Reliance Industries followed closely with a traded value of ₹2.30 lakh crore and volumes of 1.95 crore shares. The stock posted a 1.32% gain to close at ₹1,181.05. Although it remains more than 25% below its July 2024 high of ₹1,608.95, long-term investors remain focused on its telecom and new energy segments. Historically, Reliance has attracted heavy volumes during periods of macro uncertainty, acting as a bellwether for broader market sentiment.

In the tech space, Infosys added 2.24% to end at ₹1,428, supported by strong volumes of 1.28 crore shares and total value transacted of ₹1.83 lakh crore. Investors are anticipating steady earnings amid strong demand for digital transformation services globally. Its peer Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) also saw heightened activity, gaining 0.57% to ₹3,292.80 with 55.6 lakh shares traded. The two companies are expected to announce interim dividends later this month, typically seen as a positive signal of cash flow health in the IT sector.

How did Zomato and Vijaya Diagnostic Centre draw high volumes in midcap trades?

Online food delivery platform Zomato surprised markets with a sharp rise in participation, clocking volumes of 6.2 crore shares and closing 2.35% higher at ₹214.55. Retail investors and short-term traders have shown increased interest in the stock in recent months amid growing profitability and sustained order growth. Zomato’s improved operating metrics, including a narrowing of adjusted EBITDA losses, have continued to build bullish sentiment.

Vijaya Diagnostic Centre, a mid-cap healthcare diagnostics company, witnessed one of the highest single-day percentage gains among the most active stocks. It surged 13.59% to ₹1,013 after trading between ₹904.25 and ₹1,063. The stock saw over 1.34 crore shares traded with a value of ₹1.32 lakh crore. Strong investor interest in diagnostics stocks is often tied to earnings visibility and structural demand in preventive healthcare, especially as India’s health insurance coverage expands.

Which banking and financial stocks saw renewed interest on April 8?

Apart from HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, which gained 0.97% to close at ₹1,300.05, public sector giant State Bank of India (SBI) attracted substantial volumes of over 1.29 crore shares. The stock surged 3.09% to ₹770, benefitting from a continued improvement in asset quality, healthy credit growth, and strong deposit mobilisation.

Axis Bank also performed well, gaining 2.87% to ₹1,078, with nearly 87 lakh shares changing hands. Meanwhile, Kotak Mahindra Bank edged up 0.99% to ₹2,058.00. Banking stocks have been in focus ahead of Q4 earnings amid hopes that net interest margins (NIMs) have remained resilient despite a flattening yield curve and rising deposit costs.

In the non-banking finance space, Bajaj Finance added 3% to close at ₹8,825.05 on volumes of 14.7 lakh shares, reflecting a value of ₹1.29 lakh crore. Long considered a bellwether for India’s retail credit cycle, the stock remains a preferred choice for investors looking for exposure to discretionary consumption-led lending.

What sectors saw strong participation amid April’s market rebound?

The automotive sector remained active with Tata Motors trading over 2.09 crore shares and gaining 1.75% to ₹589.90. The stock has benefited from a strong recovery in commercial vehicle demand and improving electric vehicle sales across domestic and overseas markets.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) rose 1.35% to ₹2,524.85, buoyed by optimistic rural demand trends and expectations of strong tractor sales. Infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) also rallied 3.13% to ₹3,164.60 with nearly 29 lakh shares traded, ahead of anticipated project awards in roads, metro, and renewable energy sectors.

Consumer and retail names like Trent Ltd. and Titan Company were among the top active stocks by value. Trent ended the session 0.40% higher at ₹4,760 after a volatile day, while Titan surged 3.38% to ₹3,124.35 amid bullish sentiment around jewellery and watch sales despite gold price volatility.

Bharti Airtel, one of India’s largest telecom players, gained 2.06% to ₹1,721.35, aided by expectations of higher average revenue per user (ARPU) and incremental gains from 5G monetisation. The stock saw volumes of over 72 lakh shares.

What economic and policy factors are shaping Indian equity market trends?

The rebound on April 8 must be viewed in the context of global trade tensions that rattled investor sentiment last week. The U.S. announcement of sweeping new tariffs on April 2 wiped off $2.5 trillion in U.S. equity market capitalisation, triggering spillover effects in emerging markets. However, hopes of trade negotiations between the U.S. and Asia, including Japan, helped calm nerves and supported global risk assets.

On the domestic front, India continues to grapple with high food inflation, sluggish private investment, and plateauing job creation. The country’s GDP growth is forecasted to slow to 5.4% in FY2025-26, below its decade-long average of 7%, as structural constraints weigh on productivity and household consumption.

Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors have turned cautious, with cumulative net outflows of over $13 billion since October 2024. Weak earnings surprises, geopolitical uncertainties, and higher U.S. yields have contributed to the withdrawal of capital from Indian equity markets.

The Reserve Bank of India’s upcoming monetary policy decision remains a critical event for investors. With headline CPI trending above the comfort zone and inflation expectations still unanchored, the central bank is under pressure to strike a balance between growth support and price stability. Market participants expect the RBI to maintain an accommodative tone while refraining from immediate rate hikes.

What can investors expect after the April 8 rally?

While the sharp rebound in equity benchmarks signals a return of investor confidence, the sustainability of gains will depend on corporate earnings, policy clarity, and the trajectory of global interest rates. With earnings season about to begin, sectors like banking, IT, and consumer discretionary are expected to show relative resilience.

Investor focus will remain on macro stability, policy actions by central banks, and capital flows. The April 8 surge, led by heavyweights and high-volume counters, reflects underlying optimism, but elevated volatility remains a near-term risk given geopolitical headwinds and global economic uncertainty.

As trading activity intensifies, India’s most active stocks—spanning banking, technology, consumer, and auto sectors—will continue to shape market direction, offering both opportunities and caution for institutional and retail participants alike.