Metal shares in focus; Nifty Metal index at eight month high

In past two months, Nifty Metal index zoomed 24% as compared to nearly 10% rise in the Nifty 50.

Shares of metal companies are continued trading higher on the bourses on expectation of improvement in earnings and margins on a sequential basis for the quarter ended March 2016 (Q4FY16).

Vedanta has rallied 7% to Rs 105, followed by Jindal Steel & Power (6% at Rs 74), Hindustan Zinc (5% at Rs 177), Tata Steel was (4.5% at Rs 351) and Hindalco (3.3% at Rs 100) on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

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At 12:07 pm, Nifty Metal index, the largest gainer among sectoral indices, was up 3.1% at 2,048 as compared to 0.22% decline in the benchmark Nifty 50. The metal index hit an intra-day high of 2,057, its highest level since August 2015.

In past two months, Nifty Metal index zoomed 24% as compared to nearly 10% rise in the benchmark index.

“Q4FY16 is expected to be weak, however with the introduction of minimum import price (MIP) during the quarter and improvement in non-ferrous LME prices (up 1-4% on a qoq basis) coupled with a weaker rupee (down 2.4% qoq) which averaged at Rs 67.5/US$ during the quarter, Q4FY16 is expected to result in improvement in earnings and margins on a sequential basis,” Reliance Securities said in a results preview.

Centrum Broking expect broad-based improvement in earnings and margins (sequential basis) from metals & mining universe, led by marginally better realisations for ferrous producers led by support from MIP, improvement in non-ferrous LME prices coupled with weak rupee, strong volumes across players, and further drop in CoP aided by reducing raw material costs & operational efficiencies.

According to JP Morgan, March 2016 quarter should broadly see most resource companies report q/q improvement, though only marginal. Going forward, while there has been a rebound in commodity prices, earnings visibility is the highest only in steel given a supply cuts in China; and India policy protection.

Company	19/02/2016	18/04/2016	LTP	% chg*	% chg#
Vedanta	74.65	97.50	104.75	7.44	40.32
Jindal Steel	57.30	69.25	73.70	6.43	28.62
Hindustan Zinc	164.20	168.95	176.95	4.74	7.76
Tata Steel	253.25	335.55	350.80	4.54	38.52
Hindalco Inds.	69.05	97.05	100.30	3.35	45.26
SAIL	36.15	44.55	45.50	2.13	25.86
Ratnamani Metals	408.55	476.70	486.00	1.95	18.96
Bhushan Steel	34.90	37.10	37.80	1.89	8.31
JSW Steel	1083.50	1334.25	1358.10	1.79	25.34
Jindal Saw	41.40	42.95	43.55	1.40	5.19
Nifty 50	7210.75	7914.70	7897.00	-0.22	9.52
Nifty Metal	1652.90	1986.75	2048.00	3.08	23.90
LTP : Last traded price on NSE at 12:07 pm.
* change over previous close, # change over February 29.