Top 4 firms add ₹1.43 lakh crore in market cap; SBI leads gains
Synopsis
SBI added over ₹63,922 crore in a single week — the biggest gain among India's top-10 valued firms — even as LIC and Bajaj Finance bled a combined ₹77,712 crore. The split reflects a clear investor preference for PSU banking over private financials during a week shaped by RBI policy and the debut of a new F&O auction framework.
Key Takeaways
Four of India's top-10 most valued firms added a combined ₹1.43 lakh crore in market cap during the week ended 9 August .
State Bank of India (SBI) led all gainers, adding ₹63,922.03 crore to reach a market cap of ₹10,11,721.84 crore .
Reliance Industries added ₹32,816.4 crore ; TCS added ₹31,875.35 crore ; L&T added ₹14,637.76 crore .
LIC posted the biggest loss at ₹40,543.23 crore , followed by Bajaj Finance at ₹37,168.96 crore .
Six top-10 firms collectively shed ₹1.23 lakh crore in market cap over the same period.
The Sensex rose 404.53 points (0.51%) and the Nifty gained 187.05 points (0.76%) for the week.
Four of India's 10 most valued companies collectively added nearly ₹1.43 lakh crore in market capitalisation during the week ended 9 August, with State Bank of India (SBI) emerging as the standout gainer. The rally came even as six other firms in the top-10 bracket shed a combined ₹1.23 lakh crore, reflecting a sharply divided week on Dalal Street.
Benchmark Indices End Week Higher
Despite heightened volatility, the broader market closed the week in positive territory. The Sensex rose 404.53 points, or 0.51%, while the Nifty gained 187.05 points, or 0.76%. Analysts noted that investors had to navigate multiple headwinds simultaneously — the rollout of the new Closing Auction Session (CAS) framework for futures and options stocks, the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) monetary policy decision, and lingering geopolitical uncertainties — before the week's modest gains materialised.
Top Gainers: SBI, Reliance, TCS, L&T
State Bank of India recorded the sharpest rise among the top-10, with its market capitalisation surging by ₹63,922.03 crore to reach ₹10,11,721.84 crore. The gain pushed SBI further up the pecking order among India's most valuable listed firms.
Reliance Industries added ₹32,816.4 crore to its valuation, taking its market cap to ₹18,01,925.19 crore — retaining its position as India's most valued company. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) saw its market capitalisation climb ₹31,875.35 crore to ₹8,87,770.13 crore, while Larsen & Toubro (L&T) added ₹14,637.76 crore, taking its valuation to ₹5,56,482.45 crore.
Top Laggards: LIC, Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) posted the steepest fall among the top-10, losing ₹40,543.23 crore in market cap to close the week at ₹4,96,891.82 crore. Bajaj Finance was close behind, shedding ₹37,168.96 crore to stand at ₹6,73,648.55 crore.
HDFC Bank lost ₹24,183.16 crore, with its market cap settling at ₹11,27,967.47 crore. ICICI Bank declined by ₹9,507.67 crore to ₹10,20,370.63 crore, while Bharti Airtel shed ₹7,581.65 crore, leaving its valuation at ₹12,22,423.98 crore. Hindustan Unilever also ended lower, with its market cap falling ₹4,793.16 crore to ₹4,88,808.97 crore.
What the Split Tells Us
The divergence between gainers and laggards underscores a selective risk appetite among institutional investors. Public sector banking stocks — led by SBI — benefited from the RBI's policy clarity, while private financials and consumer-facing companies faced profit-booking pressure. This is consistent with a broader pattern seen this year, where PSU counters have outperformed private-sector peers during policy weeks. With global macro uncertainty still elevated, market watchers will be tracking FII flow data and the next round of corporate earnings for directional cues.
Point of View
While financial heavyweights like LIC, Bajaj Finance, and HDFC Bank collectively absorbed the brunt of selling. PSU banking's outperformance during a policy week is not accidental — RBI rate decisions and liquidity signals move these counters disproportionately. The deeper concern is LIC's persistent underperformance; its market cap has struggled to hold ground since listing, and another week of ₹40,000-crore-plus erosion will sharpen questions about its valuation trajectory. For private financials, the pressure is more cyclical, but if FII flows remain volatile, the pain may not be over.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which company gained the most in market cap last week?
State Bank of India (SBI) was the top gainer, adding ₹63,922.03 crore to its market capitalisation, which rose to ₹10,11,721.84 crore during the week ended 9 August.
Which company lost the most in market cap last week?
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) recorded the steepest decline, losing ₹40,543.23 crore to close the week with a market cap of ₹4,96,891.82 crore. Bajaj Finance followed with a loss of ₹37,168.96 crore.
How did the broader indices perform during the week?
The Sensex rose 404.53 points (0.51%) and the Nifty gained 187.05 points (0.76%) for the week, ending higher despite significant intra-week volatility driven by the new CAS framework rollout and the RBI monetary policy decision.
What factors influenced market performance this week?
Analysts pointed to three key factors: the introduction of the Closing Auction Session (CAS) framework for F&O stocks, the RBI's monetary policy announcement, and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. Together, these kept volatility elevated even as indices closed in the green.
What is the current market cap of Reliance Industries?
Reliance Industries' market capitalisation stood at ₹18,01,925.19 crore after adding ₹32,816.4 crore during the week ended 9 August, making it India's most valued listed company.
