Investor sentiment turned cautious as concerns about global demand, commodity price volatility and risky sentiment in equities weighed heavily on metals counters.
The Nifty Metal index was trading 2 percent lower at 11,572.70 at 10:52 am, after falling over 5 percent to 11,218.80 from the previous close of 11,827.55.
Vedanta fell 10 percent, reflecting intense sales interest from the opening bell. The stock struggled to find buyers during the session, underscoring nervousness around diversified metals producers.
The shares were trading 4 per cent lower at ₹656.60 at 10.44 am on the NSE, down 10 per cent to ₹613.40 from the previous closing price of ₹681.55.
Hindustan Copper also witnessed a sharp decline, down 19 per cent to ₹555.10. The sharp decline added to the overall gloom in the sector as traders rushed to reduce their exposure to metal-related stocks.
National Aluminum Company, or Nalco, rallied 14.5 per cent to ₹329.40, close to the lower circuit of ₹327.65, extending losses as aluminum stocks reflected weakness in global markets.
Hindustan Zinc was also not spared and fell almost 14 per cent to ₹543.55. According to market participants, the sell-off reflects increased uncertainty around global economic growth and fluctuations in base metal prices, prompting investors to become defensive in cyclical sectors.
Published on February 1, 2026
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