Summary of this article
Value buying emerged after recent correction made stocks attractively priced
IT stocks rallied on strong deal pipeline outlook and attractive valuations
Global markets gained, supporting sentiment across domestic equities
Crude oil prices stabilised after sharp surge, easing market concerns
Stock Market Today: Domestic equity benchmark indices extended gains for the third consecutive session on March 18, 2026, led by buying in IT stocks as investors looked for value.
The BSE Sensex rose 633.29 points, or 0.83 per cent, to close at 76,704.13, while the NSE Nifty 50 gained 196.65 points, or 0.83 per cent, to end at 23,777.80.
The broader markets also mirrored the buying enthusiasm in benchmarks, as the Nifty Midcap 100 settled 2.02 per cent higher, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 closed 1.67 per cent up. Nifty 500 and Nifty 250 indices also gained 1.14 per cent and 2.68 per cent, respectively.
Among the sectoral indices, Nifty IT rose 2.78 per cent, followed by Nifty Realty, which gained 2.75 per cent. Nifty Auto was up 1.92 per cent,. Nifty Media also rose 3.35 per cent. Nifty Bank, which tracks the 12 most valuable and liquid banking stocks, closed 0.82 per cent higher.
On the other hand, Nifty Metal and Nifty FMCG closed marginally in red. Except these two, all other sectoral indices settled in green.
Why Stock Market Rose Today
The following are the reasons why stock markets rose on March 18.
Value Buying Returns
After the unabated sell-off triggered by geopolitical tensions in the West Asia, several stocks looked attractive from a valuation perspective. Investors used the recent dip to accumulate quality stocks at lower levels, supporting the recovery.
IT Stocks Lead the Rally
Buying in IT stocks played a major role in lifting the benchmark indices. Shares of IT majors such as Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and HCL Technologies gained around 2–3 per cent. Midcap IT stocks including Coforge, Persistent Systems, and Oracle Financial Services also rose around 3-5 per cent.
Sentiment in the IT pack improved after global brokerage CLSA noted that deal pipelines remain strong and valuations in India’s IT sector are now closer to their 10-year averages, making them more attractive.
Positive Global Cues
Support also came from global markets, which ended higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 2.87 per cent, while South Korea’s Kospi jumped over 5 per cent. China’s CSI 300 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index also ended with modest gains of around 0.5 per cent each, setting a positive tone for domestic equities.
Crude Oil Prices Stabilise
Crude oil prices, which had surged over 40 per cent since the start of the US-Israel-Iran war, showed signs of stabilisation. By evening trade, Brent crude was hovering around $106.52 per barrel, while US WTI crude was near $96.15 per barrel. The relative stability in oil prices eased some pressure on market sentiment.
