** Indian metal stocks .NIFTYMET gain as much as 1% in early trade; last up 0.5% vs 0.4% rise in benchmark Nifty 50 .NSEI
** Gains aided by weaker U.S. dollar, down 0.4%, lowest in over 3 years; Shanghai copper prices hit a two-week high, supported by a weaker dollar MET/L
** Weak dollar makes metals more attractive to global buyers
** Eleven of 15 stocks on sub-index trade higher, with SAIL SAIL.NS top pct gainer, rising 2.3%
** Hindalco HALC.NS, Tata Steel TISC.NS and Jindal Stainless JIST.NS gain ~1% each
** Dollar fell after President Donald Trump said he knows 3-4 people who are contenders for the next chair of the Fed MKTS/GLOB
** Indian metals index gains 8.4% vs Nifty 50's 7% climb
(Reporting by Kashish Tandon in Bengaluru)
((Kashish.tandon@thomsonreuters.com))