Block Trade Activity Picks Up As India’s Equity Market Shows Recovery Signs

India’s equity capital market is witnessing a rise in block deal activity after a relatively slow start to 2026, with several large transactions completed over the past week across sectors including ports, financial services and digital platforms.

Invest in Indian Markets and Unlock Future Potential With 5paisa!

Open Account Now

Exchange data showed block deal proceeds touched nearly ₹20,000 crore in May so far, making it the strongest month of the year for such transactions. The increase comes as investors gradually return to large secondary market deals after months of cautious activity in Indian equities.

Among the major transactions, Worldwide Emerging Market Holding Ltd sold shares worth about $782 million in Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. Billionbrains Garage Ventures Ltd also offloaded shares valued at around $574 million in brokerage platform Groww.

The recent deals have added momentum to a market environment that has remained subdued this year, especially in the primary issuance segment.

Secondary Market Deals Gain Pace

Block trades continued on Thursday as well, with 5.89 million shares of Adani Enterprises changing hands in the market. Separately, about 6.15 million shares of Axis Bank were traded through block deal windows, according to exchange data.

The transactions were absorbed by a combination of domestic institutional investors and foreign portfolio investors, indicating continued appetite for large-scale secondary offerings despite volatility in global markets.

India’s capital markets had seen weaker activity during the early months of 2026 as benchmark indices underperformed several regional peers. The weaker market environment also slowed initial public offering activity.

Data compiled from exchange filings showed IPO fundraising in 2026 has remained below $3.5 billion so far. In comparison, Indian companies had raised more than $20 billion annually during the previous two years.

IPO Pipeline Remains Active

Despite the slower pace of listings, the pipeline for upcoming public issues remains sizeable. Several companies are preparing for market debuts later this year, including Jio Platforms Ltd, National Stock Exchange Ltd, SBI Funds Management Ltd and Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt.

As per reports, these offerings could individually raise between $1 billion and $4 billion depending on market conditions and valuations at the time of listing.

Regulatory data also showed that 157 companies have already secured approval for their IPO plans, while another 65 firms are awaiting clearance after filing draft papers.

Investor demand has also remained visible in select public offerings. The recently concluded IPO of Bagmane Prime Office REIT, valued at about $360 million, was subscribed 23 times last week.

The pickup in block trades is being closely tracked by market participants because such transactions often precede broader fundraising activity in the equity market. Sustained institutional participation in large secondary deals may support confidence in upcoming IPOs and other capital market issuances over the coming months.