BAJAJ BROKING

Notification
No new Notification messages
Inventurus Knowledge Solutions IPO is Open!
Apply for the Inventurus Knowledge Solutions IPO through UPI in just minutes.
Open a Free Demat Account
Pay ZERO maintenance charges for the first year, get free stock picks daily, and more.
Trade Now, Pay Later with up to 4x
Never miss a good trading opportunity due to low funds with our MTF feature.
Track Market Movers Instantly
Stay updated with real-time data. Get insights at your fingertips.

What is the Nifty Metal Index?

Listen to our Podcast: Grow your wealth and keep it secure.

0:00 / 0:00

Synopsis:


The Nifty Metal Index constitutes the stocks of some of the largest metals and mining companies in India, including Tata Steel, Hindalco Industries, JSW Steel, Vedanta, Adani Enterprises, etc. Read more...

By tracking its movements on a daily basis, you can understand the sentiment of investors towards metal and mining stocks. This index consists of 15 stocks listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Its values are calculated based on the free float market capitalization method. Its rebalancing happens once every six months, with cutoff dates on January 31 and July 31. Read less

 

The Nifty Metal Index is a stock market index that reflects the performance of some of the largest metals and mining companies in India. It is made up of a maximum of 15 stocks listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

The Nifty Metal Index uses the free float market capitalization method. In other words, to calculate the index’s value, only those shares of a company are considered that are available for trade.

The index was launched on July 12, 2011. Ever since then, it has become a barometer to understand the performance of the Indian metal sector. Its base date is January 1, 2004, and the base value is 1,000. Some of its leading constituent stocks include Tata Steel, Hindalco Industries, JSW Steel, Vedanta, and Adani Enterprises.

This index can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, you can compare the performance of a mutual fund focused on metal stocks with that of the Nifty Metal Index. It can also be used to launch index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

What are the Criteria for Selecting Stocks for the Nifty Metal Index?

A company should be from the metals and mining sector in India to be included in the Nifty Metal Index. Besides, it should be listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). The trading frequency of a stock should be a minimum of 90% in the last six months to be considered for inclusion in the index.

Then, a metal and mining stock should have a listing history of at least one month as of the cutoff date. When a review is conducted to decide the index constituents, it is necessary that the stocks should be a part of Nifty 500.

When the Nifty Metal Index is rebalanced, a stock should not exceed the cap of 33% in terms of market capitalization. Besides, the cumulative market cap of the top 3 stocks should not be more than 62% when rebalancing is done. Such caps ensure that a few stocks do not get overrepresented by the index.

What is the Significance of the Nifty Metal Index? 

The Nifty Metal Index is the bellwether index when it comes to the metal and mining industry of India. Its constituents are some of the largest companies in India that are into the production of steel, aluminium, zinc, copper, etc.

Hence, if you want to know how the metal and mining companies are doing in India, instead of checking the stock price of individual companies, you can have a look at the performance of the Nifty Metal Index.

The index can also be used to benchmark the performance of mutual funds (MF) and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focusing on metal and mining stocks. If you want to find an MF or an ETF that concentrates on metals, then you need to find those funds that have delivered better returns than the Nifty Metal Index.

Top Stocks in the Nifty Metal Index

Find below the list of the top stocks that are the constituents of the Nifty Metal Index. The table also mentions their weightage in the index. These are the largest and most actively traded metals and mining stocks in India. Many MFs and ETFs invest in these stocks due to their superior performance over the years.

Company Name

Weightage in the Index (%)*

Tata Steel

18.87

Hindalco Industries

15.04

JSW Steel

14.59

Vedanta

12.11

Adani Enterprises

9.13

Jindal Steel & Power

5.42

APL Apollo Tubes

4.32

NMDC

4.17

Jindal Stainless

3.5

National Aluminium Co.

3.42

*Source: https://www.niftyindices.com/Factsheet/ind_nifty_metal.pdf

What are the Factors that Impact the Nifty Metal Stocks?

The main factors that influence Nifty metal stocks are explained below:

  1. International demand for metals: The global demand for metals is one of the most important factors that impact Nifty metal stocks. Factors that influence the global demand for metals include infrastructure development, growth in manufacturing, and urbanization.

  2. Government policies: Metals and mining is a heavily regulated sector. The government plays a crucial role in deciding tariffs, import/export duties, and environmental regulations, which affect Nifty metal stocks.

  3. Currency fluctuations: The market for metals is global. Hence, currency fluctuations impact the profitability of Indian metal companies. For example, if a company exports metals, then its exports may increase when the rupee depreciates, and vice versa.

  4. Supply chain issues: Supply chain issues caused by war or factors like COVID-19 can badly affect the performance of metal companies. Hence, before investing in these stocks, you need to watch out for such factors.

Rebalancing of the Nifty Metal Index

The rebalancing of the Nifty Metal Index happens once every six months or on a semi-annual basis, with cutoff dates on January 31 and July 31. During this exercise, it is decided which stocks will be represented by the index and what their weightage will be.

To decide whether a stock should be included in the index, its average data for the last six months is taken into account. When the changes are decided, they are communicated to the stock market at least four weeks in advance.

Components of the Nifty Metal Index

  • Steel: The Nifty Metal Index includes companies involved in manufacturing steel and its alloys. Steel is widely used in many industries, like transportation, construction, and manufacturing. Its performance depends upon factors like global demand, economic ups & downs, and infrastructure development. The Nifty Metal Index includes many prominent steel players in India, like JSW Steel, Tata Steel, and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).

  • Aluminium: The Nifty Metal Index includes companies that are into extracting, refining, and processing aluminium. As aluminium is lightweight and corrosion-resistant, it is used in industries like automotive, aerospace, and packaging. Its price depends upon factors like global demand and technological advancements. Some of the prominent aluminium companies in India that are represented by the Nifty Metal Index are Hindalco Industries and National Aluminium Company (NALCO).

  • Copper: One of the most important metals, copper is well-known for its electrical conductivity. It has applications in construction, electrical wiring, and electronics. Several factors impact the price of copper, including supply-demand imbalances, mining disruptions, and the transition to green technologies. Vedanta, which is a part of the Nifty Metal Index, is involved in the copper business.

  • Zinc: Zinc is mainly used to galvanize steel to prevent corrosion. It also has a role in batteries, alloys, and industrial products. Vedanta’s subsidiary, Hindustan Zinc, is a prominent player in the zinc industry. Factors that influence zinc’s demand include industrial growth, the requirement for rust-resistant materials, and infrastructure development.

How is the Value of the NIFTY Metal Index Calculated?

The first thing you need to know is the list of 15 metal stocks that are included in the Nifty Metal Index. Then, you need to assign weights to them. You can get both these inputs by visiting this link on the National Stock Exchange's (NSE) website: https://www.niftyindices.com/indices/equity/sectoral-indices/nifty-metal

After finding the inputs, you should use this formula to calculate the value of the index:

Index value = [Current market capitalization/Base market capitalization] * (Base Index Value)

What are the Benefits & Risks of Investing in Nifty Metal Stocks?

Advantages

  • Potential for High Returns: You can earn high returns by investing in metal stocks. However, these stocks follow cyclical patterns. So, you should buy them when their prices are low and sell them when their prices are high.

  • Diversification: The metal sector is not highly correlated with other sectors of the Indian economy, like information technology, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, etc. Hence, you can diversify your portfolio by investing in metal stocks.

  • Exposure to Global Growth: The metal industry is global in nature. Many Indian metal manufacturers supply their products to other countries where the demand is high. Hence, you can gain exposure to global growth by investing in metal stocks.

Risks

  • Price Volatility: As discussed earlier, the metal sector is highly cyclical in nature. Hence, metal prices tend to be extremely volatile, which can adversely affect the performance of companies represented by the Nifty Metal Index.

  • Supply and Demand Shocks: A number of global factors, like infrastructure development, trends in the manufacturing sector, and geopolitical tensions, can cause supply or demand shocks, thereby badly impacting the performance of metal companies.

  • Government Policies: Government policies concerning tariffs, export/import duties, and environmental protection can also negatively affect the performance of metals and mining companies.

Things One Should Remember for Trading the Nifty Metal Index

  • Consider the Risks: You need to consider all the risks of investing in a Nifty metal stock. Only after you have considered the risks you should think of the upside potential of a stock.

  • Conduct Thorough Research: You should thoroughly research a stock before taking a position. For example, a steel stock is extremely different from an aluminium stock. Hence, it is important to conduct detailed research.

  • Use a Stop-Loss: To prevent your losses from amplifying, you should use a stop-loss when taking a position in metal stocks.

  • Don’t Over-Leverage: When you use leverage (e.g., by using a margin trading facility), keep in mind that it can amplify your profits and losses both. Hence, you should be careful.

  • Take Profits Wisely: Metals is a highly cyclical sector, which witnesses extreme ups and downs. Hence, you should take profits when you think that the opportunity is right. If you wait too long, your profits may end up becoming losses.

Final Thoughts

If you are keen to invest in metal stocks, you should track the movements of the NSE Metal Index on a daily basis. By tracking the index, you will be able to gauge the investors’ sentiment towards the metal and mining sector, which will help you decide whether to buy or sell metal stocks.

Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing.

This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.

For All Disclaimers Click Here: https://bit.ly/3Tcsfuc

Share this article: 

Frequently Asked Questions

How frequently does rebalancing take place for the Nifty Metal Index?

Answer Field

The rebalancing of the NSE Metal Index occurs once every six months, with cutoff dates on January 31 and July 31.

How to invest in the NIFTY Metal Index?

Answer Field

As the NSE Metal Index is an index and not a security, you cannot directly invest in it. However, you can invest in the stocks that constitute it, like Tata Steel, Hindalco Industries, JSW Steel, Vedanta, etc. Alternatively, you can also invest in ETFs that mirror the performance of the Nifty Metal Index.

How did the Nifty Metal Index perform in the last 12 months?

Answer Field

In the last 12 months (between December 1, 2023 and December 2, 2024), the Nifty Metal Index has moved up by around 29%.

Is investing in the NIFTY Metal Index safe?

Answer Field

It is tough to say whether it is safe. Investing in metal stocks that constitute the Nifty Metal Index or investing in an ETF that mirrors the index’s performance is like investing in any equity stock, whose value can go up or down significantly purely based on the market sentiment and not due to the performance of the underlying security. Hence, you always take a risk when you invest in the Nifty Metal Index.

No Result Found

Read More Blogs

Our Secure Trading Platforms

Level up your stock market experience: Download the Bajaj Broking App for effortless investing and trading

Bajaj Broking App Download

8 Lacs+ Users

icon-with-text

4.4+ App Rating

icon-with-text

4 Languages

icon-with-text

₹4700+ Cr MTF Book

icon-with-text