The NIFTY50 index traded over 250 points, or 1%, lower on Thursday afternoon, while the SENSEX fell more than 810 points, or 1.08%, on its weekly expiry day. Indian equity markets approached pivotal support levels as global Treasury yields surged to multi‑decade highs, heightening concerns for international investors. Despite the broader weakness, a handful of stocks posted strong gains and surpassed their long‑term averages, signalling selective resilience amid market volatility.

Shares of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) surged almost 5% as investor optimism rose following its flat listing on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The IPO attracted a bumper response from institutional investors, who subscribed to the issue over 12.6x. On its debut day, the company entered the top 10 most valued firms by market capitalisation. The shares traded 3% higher at ₹1,839 apiece, giving the firm a market capitalisation of ₹4.56 lakh crore.

Conversely, shares of insurers and intermediary companies faced heavy selling pressure from morning as the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) announced a consultation paper on reforming the economics of distribution. The paper highlighted that distribution costs or commissions rose over 4x between 2020 and 2025, outpacing premium growth and underscoring malpractices adopted by distributors. The regulator aims to reduce commissions significantly to enhance transparency and accountability. Consequently, shares of major distributors such as Policybazaar and Turtlemint fell as much as 20%, while insurer stocks HDFC Life, SBI Life Insurance and ICICI Prudential Insurance dipped about 5%.

Cipla shares jumped over 5% on Thursday as investors favoured defensive bets amid weak market sentiment. The pharmaceutical player reached an intraday high of ₹1,419, crossing its 200‑EMA level of ₹1,412 during the session. The image CIPLAEQ_2026-09-24_13-52-02.png accompanies the report, showing the stock’s movement. The year‑to‑date rally of 26.5% in 2026 reflects a robust performance relative to the broader market.

Vardhaman Textiles shares surged over 6% during the intraday session on Thursday, crossing the 200‑EMA level of ₹557 on the NSE. The textile firm’s stock has rallied more than 29% on a year‑to‑date basis in 2026, outperforming many peers. The image VTLEQ_2026-09-24_13-53-10.png illustrates the intraday gain, while the image ENRINEQ_2026-09-24_13-52-16.png shows Siemens Energy India’s rise to an intraday high of ₹3,281, surpassing its 200‑EMA level of ₹3,236. Investors noted the significant intraday gain as a positive signal for the companies’ future prospects.