Top Gainers & Losers on 21 Aug: Welspun Corp, Jindal Saw, Urban Company, Vedanta, CarTrade Tech among top gainers | Stock Market News

Indian stock markets finished Friday's session on a subdued note, as elevated crude oil prices and a rebound in global bond yields kept investor sentiment fragile. Expectations of a diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East also faded, with the U.S. preparing sweeping economic penalties against Iran, adding another layer of uncertainty to markets.

Both the Nifty 50 and the Sensex ended the session largely unchanged from the previous day, extending their weekly losing streak to a second consecutive week. Stocks witnessed sharp fluctuations throughout the week as investors reacted to developments in the Middle East, even as June-quarter corporate earnings came in above analysts' expectations.

The broader markets ended mixed, with the Nifty Smallcap 100 gaining 0.55%, while the Nifty Midcap 100 slipped 0.04%. Meanwhile, the U.S.-Iran conflict showed no signs of easing, with the two sides remaining locked in a dispute over the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. is moving to isolate Iran's economy in what President Donald Trump described as an "economic D-day", with details of the initiative expected on Monday. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that Iran would face the “greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world".

Tracking these developments, traders increasingly expect supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz to persist, pushing Brent crude above $94 per barrel.

"The market lacked a strong directional trigger, with elevated crude oil prices, geopolitical concerns and global bond-market pressure keeping risk appetite restrained. After Thursday’s recovery, traders largely opted for consolidation and profit booking at higher levels, resulting in a muted final session of the week," said domestic brokerage firm Lemonn Markets.

Welspun Corp shares emerged as the top performer among Nifty 500 stocks, surging 14% to ₹2,290 apiece after the company secured the largest single order in its history. The order, valued at approximately $1.8 billion (around ₹17,200 crore), is for the supply of pipes from its manufacturing facility in the United States.

Jindal Saw was another major gainer, rising 8% to ₹292 apiece. Other metal stocks, including Vedanta, Hindustan Zinc, National Aluminium Company (NALCO), and Hindustan Copper, gained between 2.3% and 4%.

Among other notable gainers, Urban Company, IIFL Finance, NCC, Reliance Power, JBM Auto, CarTrade Tech, Aegis Logistics, PTC Industries, Prime Focus, and Transformers & Rectifiers India advanced more than 5%.

Netweb Technologies, Engineers India, CDSL, Bharat Dynamics, Wockhardt, Syngene International, Power Grid Corporation, KEC International, and Piramal Finance were among the other top gainers.

On the losing side, Himadri Speciality Chemical remained under selling pressure, emerging as the top laggard for the third consecutive session. The stock fell another 7.1% to ₹654 apiece.

Profit booking also hit Balrampur Chini Mills, with the stock declining 5% to ₹729, giving up a part of its gains from Thursday's session.

Britannia Industries witnessed renewed selling pressure, falling 3.3% to ₹5,365 apiece. GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals also extended its decline for a second consecutive session, slipping 3.25% to ₹2,902. Despite the recent weakness, the stock remains up nearly 10% so far in August.

Other notable losers included Usha Martin, Poly Medicure, Aditya Birla Real Estate, CCL Products India, Cohance Lifesciences, Saregama India, Aadhar Housing Finance, KEI Industries, CreditAccess Grameen, Finolex Cables, Jindal Stainless, C.E. Info Systems, Devyani International, Kirloskar Oil Engines, LIC Housing Finance, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, and Zydus Wellness, which declined between 2% and 3%.

Disclaimer: We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.

Ksheera Sagar has been working as a Market Research Analyst at LiveMint for the past four years, covering stocks, commodities, and broader financial markets. In this role, he closely tracks daily market movements, corporate earnings, sector trends, and macroeconomic developments. <br><br> He has over a decade of experience in the financial services industry and has previously worked with multiple organisations, including global investment bank J.P. Morgan, bringing strong research experience into the newsroom. <br><br> During his career, he has gained extensive exposure to equity research, market analysis, and financial data interpretation, strengthening his expertise across asset classes and market cycles. <br><br> He is known for his data-driven analysis and crisp, listicle-style market stories that break down complex financial developments across key markets for a wide audience. His strong research skills enable him to write detailed and insightful stories on stocks and sectors, focusing on the underlying factors driving market movements. <br><br> His work combines quantitative insights with clear storytelling, presenting financial developments in a clear and structured manner. Moreover, he enjoys writing multibagger and listicle-style copies. Outside of work, Ksheera enjoys playing the piano and exploring new places. He has a keen interest in travel, music, and continuously learning about global markets and economic trends.

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