Sectoral Shift: Metals & Autos Rally Strong, IT Index Slides Further

In the third week of March 2026, Indian equity markets extended gains, with benchmark indices closing higher for the second consecutive session. The Nifty advanced over 400 points, while the Sensex surged more than 1,400 points across two trading days. On March 17, sectoral momentum was led by metal and auto stocks. The Nifty Metal index rallied 2.8%, driven by strong moves in

and , both gaining over 6%. The Nifty Auto index also climbed 2.1%, supported by a 3.5% rise in and . However, the IT sector remained under pressure, with the Nifty IT index declining nearly 1%, marking its sixth straight session of losses, led by Persistent Systems and . Disclaimer: Investments in securities are subject to market risk. This is for educational purposes only. Investors must verify information before investing and consider their financial position & risk profile.