Metal stocks nudge higher

　　The BSE Metal index gained 0.26% to 14,420.13. It outperformed the Sensex, which was up 0.16% to 17,488.53.

　　The BSE Metal index underperformed the market over the past one month till 2 July 2010, falling 1.69% as compared to the Sensex's return of 4.3%. It had also underperformed the market in the past one quarter, declining 21.11% as compared to the Sensex's 1.31% fall.

　　National Aluminium Company (up 0.14% to Rs 429.15), Jindal Steel & Power (up 0.34% to Rs 617.65), Hindustan Zinc (up 0.35% to Rs 944), Steel Authority of India (up 0.42% to Rs 190.85), Sesa Goa (up 0.81% to Rs 349.55) and Sterlite Industries (up 0.90% to Rs 162.10) edged higher.