Indian metal stocks gain as top-consumer China cuts key lending rates

Steel Authority of India

20/05/2025 06:07

** Nifty Metal index .NIFTYMET up 1% vs benchmark Nifty 50's .NSEI 0.2% fall

** The index is one of the top three sectoral gainers among 13 major sectors

** Sub-index's gains spurred by China lowering benchmark lending rates for the first time since October to help buffer its economy from the impact of the Sino-U.S. trade war

** China's lending rate cut is expected to stimulate economic growth in the world's largest metals consumer, which in turn could increase metals demand and push up prices

** Steel Authority of India SAIL.NS up 2.3%, the most among metal stocks

** India's largest copper and aluminium producer, Hindalco Industries HALC.NS is trading 1.1% higher ahead of reporting Q4 results later in the day

** 13 out of 15 stocks in Nifty Metal index are trading higher

** Metals index up 7.5% YTD vs Nifty 50's 5.2% climb

 (Reporting by Anuran Sadhu in Bengaluru)

 ((Anuran.Sadhu@thomsonreuters.com; +91 8697274436;))