Metal shares gain on robust China data

Metal stocks firmed up on hopes that demand would increase after robust data from China,

Metal stocks firmed up on hopes that demand would increase after encouraging data from China, the world's largest consumer of copper and aluminium.

China’s non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index increased in September to 55.4 from 53.9 in August indicating signs of growth revival in the world's second largest economy.

In noon trades, the BSE Metal Index was the top gainer among the sectoral indices up 3.6% at 8,650.

Sesa Goa was the top gainer in the index up 6.2% followed by NMDC, Steel Authority of India and Tata Steel all up over 4% each.

Among other metal shares, Hindalco Ind, Hindustan Zinc, JSW Steel were up 2-3.5% each.