Top gainers among Nifty 50 stocks in midday trades today, Feb 20: NTPC surge 2.2%, Hindalco Industries up 2%, L&T jumps 2%

Indian equity benchmarks traded higher in midday deals on February 20 (IST), with buying visible across power, metal, infrastructure and select FMCG names.

At 12:10 PM IST, the Nifty 50 was up 135.30 points, or 0.53%, at 25,589.65. The Sensex gained 394.25 points, or 0.48%, to 82,892.39, while the Bank Nifty rose 0.73% to 61,181.00. The Midcap Nifty index was also marginally higher, up 0.19%.

Among the top gainers in the Nifty 50 during midday trade, NTPC led the pack, rising 2.2% to ₹371.2. The stock saw steady buying as power sector counters traded firm.

Hindalco Industries advanced 2.0% to ₹924.0. Gains in metal stocks supported the move in the aluminium major.

Shares of Larsen & Toubro climbed 2.0% to ₹4,364.0, contributing to strength in infrastructure-linked counters.

In the FMCG space, Hindustan Unilever gained 1.9% to ₹2,322.5, recovering alongside broader market sentiment.

Defence major Bharat Electronics rose 1.9% to ₹443.6, featuring among the key index movers.

Metal stocks remained in focus, with JSW Steel up 1.7% at ₹1,248.9 and Tata Steel higher by 1.4% at ₹208.3.

Among power and PSU names, Power Grid Corporation of India gained 1.6% to ₹299.4, while Coal India added 1.4% to ₹421.8.

Meanwhile, Nestlé India edged up 1.5% to ₹1,297.3.

Overall, buying interest remained stock-specific, with strength concentrated in select heavyweights from the power, metal and infrastructure segments during midday trade.