The markets are off lows in afternoon trade with the Nifty holding steady above 25,300, while the Sensex is completely flat.
However, several sectors and specific stocks are seeing sharp price actions. Metals surged, select midcaps exploded, and a few earnings-driven names quietly reminded the market that numbers still matter.
Here are the top movers and shakers at this hour:
Hindustan Copper
Hindustan Copper dominated the tape. The stock surged close to 19.5% by midday, extending a rally that has already defied conventional logic for months. Over the last six months alone, the counter has climbed more than 190%, and the buying on Wednesday showed no signs of restraint.
The trigger was copper itself. Multi Commodity Exchange of India copper futures for February jumped over 6%, hitting a lifetime high, while international prices followed the same script. Shanghai copper contracts touched record levels as investors rotated out of gold and silver and piled into industrial metals. Demand linked to electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, power grids and data centres continues to tighten supply assumptions.
eClerx Services
eClerx Services saw strong buying interest, rising about 8% by midday after announcing its December quarter numbers. The earnings jump was material, not cosmetic. Net profit rose nearly 40% year-on-year, while revenue grew sharply as well. That alone would have drawn attention. The board then added a 1:1 bonus issue to the mix.
ABB India
ABB India climbed around 9% by midday, extending its recent run and marking one of its strongest sessions in months. The push came after its Swiss parent reported a strong close to 2025, with India standing out as a major contributor. Base orders in the Indian market surged sharply, reinforcing the narrative that domestic industrial demand remains solid even as global conditions stay uneven.
Hindalco Industries
Hindalco Industries traded higher by around 2.5% to 3% through the first half of the session after announcing progress on the expansion of its aluminium operations in Odisha. The update was operational, not dramatic, but it landed at a time when metal stocks were already in favour.
With aluminium prices firm and the broader metals space seeing renewed interest, Hindalco’s expansion plans added a layer of comfort around medium-term capacity growth. The stock pared some early gains but stayed firmly in the green, holding its ground even as the indices drifted.
Piramal Pharma
Piramal Pharma moved up nearly 3% by midday after reporting its third-quarter results. The numbers were steady rather than spectacular, but the market response was positive. Trading volumes picked up, with a meaningful amount of stock changing hands across both exchanges.