Sensex, Nifty flat; metal stock surge

REUTERS - The BSE Sensex and Nifty are flat in afternoon trade.

Metal stocks are the top Sensex gainers: Sesa jumps 5.2 percent, Hindalco rises 2.8 percent, Tata Steel gains 2 percent.

Consolidation may continue until the government unveils its budget in early-to-mid July, according to analysts.

BSE bankex falls 0.23 percent. HDFC Bank is trading 1.6 percent lower.

Falls also track lower Asian stocks following a drop in HSBC/Markit's measure of the China service sector to 50.7 in May from April's 51.4.