Top gainers and losers today: Stocks that moved the most on March 21

Benchmark indices BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 extended gains for a fifth day in a row on March 21, supported by the broader markets, with the Rupee rising for an eighth session.

At close, Sensex climbed 557 points, or 0.73 percent, to settle at 76,905, while the Nifty 50 advanced 159 points, or 0.69 percent to close at 23,350. The Nifty 50 decisively crossed the 23,300 resistance with banking, oil & gas, and pharma stocks supporting the rally.

Broader market mirrored the positive sentiment with BSE Mid and Smallcap indices adding between 1-2 percent. Sectorally, most indices ended in the green, barring consumer durables and metals, which saw some selling pressure. Oil & gas, media, and telecom stocks stood out, supported by strong institutional buying and favourable policy outlook.

Here are some of the movers in the trading session that were in focus:Top Gainers

1) Manappuram Finance

Shares of Manappuram Finance surged 10 percent after Bain Capital announced a Rs 4,385 crore investment to acquire an 18 percent stake in the company, sparking strong buying interest among investors. Following the announcement, brokerage firm IDBI Capital upgraded the stock to a ‘Buy’ and raised its target price to Rs 252, up from Rs 200, citing improved growth prospects and capital infusion benefits. Meanwhile, Motilal Oswal maintained a ‘Neutral’ rating with a target price of Rs 240, highlighting that while the deal is positive, long-term execution will be key to sustaining momentum.

2) Hindustan Construction Company (HCC)

Shares of Hindustan Construction Company soared 13 percent in early trade after the company, in a joint venture with Tata Projects, secured a massive Rs 2,470 crore order for civil and hydro-mechanical works, including tunnels, reservoirs, and powerhouse construction. This marks the second major contract win for HCC in just a week, following a Rs 2,191 crore metro rail project secured earlier, further strengthening the company's order book and boosting investor confidence. With a series of large infrastructure wins, the stock has seen renewed buying interest, signaling positive growth momentum for the company.

3) Larsen & Toubro (L&T)

L&T shares jumped 3 percent after the engineering giant secured a significant contract worth between Rs 2,500-5,000 crore from Brigade Group for high-rise residential and commercial towers in Hyderabad and Chennai, making it one of the company’s largest private sector project wins in the real estate space. The project, set to be executed on a design-and-build basis, reinforces L&T’s leadership in India's premium residential and commercial real estate market. At a time when demand for high-rise living and integrated workspaces is on the rise, this contract win strengthens L&T’s foothold and adds to its already robust order book.

4) Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL)

Shares of RVNL gained 3 percent after the company received a Letter of Acceptance from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for a Rs 554 crore project involving the construction of a six-lane access-controlled connectivity road to Visakhapatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh. The project, which will connect the Sabbavaram bypass to Sheelanagar junction under the Hybrid Annuity Mode, is expected to enhance regional infrastructure and facilitate smoother cargo movement to the port. With this latest contract win, RVNL continues to expand its footprint in the infrastructure sector, further bolstering investor optimism.

5) TVS Motor Company

TVS Motor Company shares rallied 4.15 percent intraday, continuing their strong upward momentum after CLSA issued a bullish note highlighting that premium motorcycle sales have significantly outperformed the entry-level segment so far this fiscal. The stock has been on a strong uptrend, gaining nearly 8 percent over the past five trading sessions as investors bet on the company's expanding presence in the premium two-wheeler space. Additionally, the stock saw renewed buying interest after the company declared an interim dividend for the financial year ending March 2025, further boosting investor sentiment.Top Losers

1) Voltas Ltd

Shares of Voltas slipped over 2 percent after brokerage firm Prabhudas Lilladher downgraded the stock from ‘Buy’ to ‘Accumulate,’ citing concerns over the company’s pricing strategy and focus on market share rather than margin expansion. The brokerage highlighted that no major price hikes have been announced, as Voltas prioritizes volume growth over immediate profitability, which could pressure short-term earnings. While the company remains a leader in the cooling solutions space, investors appeared cautious about the near-term impact of its aggressive market positioning strategy.

2) Infosys

While the domestic IT sector recovered from initial losses, Infosys remained the sole laggard, declining 1.3 percent after global IT giant Accenture's second-quarter revenue guidance fell short of investor expectations. Echoing the negative sentiment, Infosys and Wipro ADRs fell over three percent overnight, raising concerns that domestic IT stocks may continue to track this weakness in upcoming sessions.

3) IndusInd Bank

IndusInd Bank shares saw some volatility after the lender announced that its board had decided to appoint an independent professional firm to conduct a detailed investigation into discrepancies found in its derivatives portfolio. Initially, the stock slipped 1.3 percent as investor concerns over potential financial risks weighed on sentiment, but it later recovered to end with a modest 0.70 percent gain. While the broader market reaction remained measured, investors will be closely watching further developments as the investigation unfolds.

4) Tata Steel

Tata Steel shares ended lower in today's trade, with declines as low as 1.30 percent, even as YES Research maintained a ‘Neutral’ rating on the stock while raising its target price to Rs 168 from Rs 145. The brokerage cited strong domestic demand, ongoing capacity expansion, and a more favorable pricing environment as key factors supporting the stock’s long-term outlook. However, market sentiment remained cautious, with near-term concerns such as global steel demand trends and volatility in raw material prices weighing on the stock.

5) Blue Jet Healthcare