Improving outlook can bring back shine in Hindustan Zinc

Rebounding zinc and firm silver prices will add to gains from rising production

Hindustan Zinc’s (HZL’s) July-September quarter (second quarter, or Q2) performance was better than the first quarter (Q1). It was driven by a rebound in base metal prices. While zinc and lead prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) nosedived in the April-June quarter (Q1), the sharp recovery thereafter has improved the company’s outlook.

An improving outlook and increased dividends can further lift sentiment towards HZL, which, after a strong rebound between March-lows and mid-August, had been range-bound. On Wednesday, it surged 4.5 per cent.

LME zinc prices per tonne averaged $2,335 in Q2, higher than $1,961 in Q1 and 1 per cent