Nifty Metal Today: Index Rises 0.86% to 13,172.60

In the Closing Bell update for 21 August 2026, Nifty Metal emerged as the top gaining sector index among the configured sector indices. The index added 112.35 points, or 0.86%, to finish at 13,172.60. The session featured positive breadth, with 10 of 16 tracked stocks advancing, while gains in Welspun Corp, Vedanta and Hindustan Zinc stood out.

Quick sector takeaways

• Nifty Metal today closed at 13,172.60, up 112.35 points or 0.86% from the previous close of 13,060.25.
• The index traded between 13,073.10 and 13,210.35 during the session, finishing 37.75 points below its intraday high.
• Breadth was constructive: 10 stocks advanced and six declined among 16 displayed sector stocks.
• Welspun Corp rose 15.30%, while Vedanta gained 4.10% and Hindustan Zinc advanced 3.66%; the next session will show whether participation remains broad.

Nifty Metal today closes higher

Nifty Metal today delivered the strongest gain among the configured sector indices, ending the session in positive territory. The index began at 13,122.75, above its previous close of 13,060.25, and moved higher through the day to touch 13,210.35. It settled at 13,172.60, preserving a gain of 112.35 points.

The closing level was above both the previous close and the opening level. From the day’s low of 13,073.10 to the high of 13,210.35, the index covered a 137.25-point intraday range. Its close remained closer to the day’s high than the day’s low, an observation that reflects the index’s firm end-of-session position without assigning a cause to the move.

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Price snapshot

The gap between the closing level and the intraday peak was 37.75 points. Meanwhile, the close was 99.50 points above the day’s low. These figures frame the day’s trading range and provide context for the 0.86% rise in the sector index.

Sector ranking

Nifty Metal ranked first among the configured sector indices by daily percentage gain on 21 August 2026. Its 0.86% advance was ahead of Nifty Bank, which gained 0.46%, and Nifty Financial Services, which added 0.22%. This made metal the leading positive sector-index move in the available set at the close.

The ranking is a session-specific comparison of index changes. It highlights that Nifty Metal today had the highest percentage advance in the configured sector universe, while several other tracked sector indices ended lower or broadly flat. The result places the metal basket at the forefront of the day’s sector performance.

Constituent breadth

The advance was supported by positive breadth. Of the 16 displayed stocks in the index, 10 closed higher and six closed lower, with no unchanged stocks. That produces an advance-decline ratio of 1.67, meaning gainers outnumbered decliners during the session.

The breadth reading is important because the index gain was not limited to a single advancing name. Gains were visible across a group that included Welspun Corp, Vedanta, Hindustan Zinc, Ratnamani Metals & Tubes, National Aluminium Company, Hindustan Copper, Jindal Steel & Power, NMDC, Hindalco and Adani Enterprises. At the same time, declines in a number of other stocks kept the session mixed at the stock level.

Heavyweights versus broader participation

The supplied heavyweight list showed a mixed picture. Vedanta Ltd. gained 4.10% to ₹279.00 and Hindustan Zinc Ltd. rose 3.66% to ₹594.90. Adani Enterprises edged up 0.07% to ₹2,997.00. In contrast, JSW Steel slipped 0.46% and Tata Steel declined 0.27%.

The supplied most-active stock list also included Adani Enterprises, JSW Steel, Tata Steel, Hindustan Zinc and Vedanta. Their mixed moves, alongside the broader 10-to-6 positive breadth, underline that the sector’s closing strength coexisted with stock-specific divergence.

Key Nifty Metal stocks

Biggest positive movers

Welspun Corp led the gainers, jumping ₹306.70 to ₹2,311.90. Its intraday high was ₹2,348.90, placing the close ₹37.00 below that high. Vedanta added ₹11.00 to ₹279.00 and closed near its day high of ₹279.70. Hindustan Zinc gained ₹21.00 to ₹594.90, after trading as high as ₹598.50.

Ratnamani Metals & Tubes rose ₹64.80 to ₹2,354.40, while National Aluminium Company advanced ₹8.85 to ₹394.45. These five names were the largest positive movers in the supplied sector ranking and contributed to the constructive breadth picture.

Biggest negative movers

Jindal Stainless was the largest decliner, falling ₹17.05 or 2.37% to ₹701.35. Lloyds Metals & Energy declined ₹25.50 or 1.35% to ₹1,865.90, while Steel Authority of India fell 0.82% to ₹173.46.

JSW Steel ended 0.46% lower at ₹1,293.70 and Tata Steel eased 0.27% to ₹183.00. These declines show that, despite the index’s leadership and favourable breadth, the session was not uniformly positive across metal stocks.

Stocks to watch next session

• Welspun Corp, after its 15.30% rise and a close at ₹2,311.90.
• Vedanta, which gained 4.10% and finished at ₹279.00.
• Hindustan Zinc, up 3.66% to ₹594.90.
• Ratnamani Metals & Tubes, up 2.83% to ₹2,354.40.
• Jindal Stainless, which closed 2.37% lower at ₹701.35.
• JSW Steel, which ended 0.46% lower at ₹1,293.70.

The constructive case

The positive case is rooted in the closing data: Nifty Metal gained 0.86%, led the configured sector-index ranking, opened above the previous close and finished above that opening level. The index also ended well above its intraday low, while advances outnumbered declines by 10 to six.

Strong moves in Welspun Corp, Vedanta, Hindustan Zinc, Ratnamani Metals & Tubes and National Aluminium Company provided visible positive stock-level participation. This combination of index leadership and more advancers than decliners is the constructive evidence from the session.

The cautious case

Investors should also note the mixed stock-level performance. Six displayed stocks declined, led by Jindal Stainless and Lloyds Metals & Energy. JSW Steel and Tata Steel also ended lower, while Adani Enterprises posted only a marginal gain.

Additionally, Nifty Metal did not close at its session high of 13,210.35. The next session’s breadth and the performance of both leading gainers and lagging heavyweight stocks will help indicate whether the positive close is followed by similarly broad participation.

Univest Insights

Nifty Metal today stood out as the leading configured sector index, with a 0.86% gain translating into a 112.35-point rise. The index’s close at 13,172.60 represented a firm improvement over the prior close of 13,060.25.

The session’s breadth adds useful context. Ten advancing stocks versus six declining stocks suggests that the positive index result had wider participation than a narrow move concentrated in one or two names. Welspun Corp’s 15.30% rise was the largest individual gain, while Vedanta and Hindustan Zinc added strength among the supplied heavyweight names.

At the same time, individual outcomes varied considerably. Jindal Stainless, Lloyds Metals & Energy, SAIL, JSW Steel and Tata Steel ended lower. This divergence makes it useful to assess the index alongside individual stock moves rather than treating all metal names as moving in the same direction.

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Published on 21 August 2026 at 4:15 PM IST

Frequently asked questions

What was Nifty Metal today?

Nifty Metal closed at 13,172.60 on 21 August 2026, up 112.35 points or 0.86% from 13,060.25.

Was Nifty Metal the top gaining sector index?

Yes. Nifty Metal was the top gaining sector index among the configured sector indices, with a 0.86% gain.

What were Nifty Metal’s intraday high and low?

The index recorded a day high of 13,210.35 and a day low of 13,073.10.

How was the breadth in Nifty Metal stocks?

Among 16 displayed stocks, 10 advanced and six declined, with no unchanged stocks.

Which stock gained the most in the Nifty Metal basket?

Welspun Corp was the largest gainer, rising 15.30% to ₹2,311.90.

Which stock declined the most in the Nifty Metal basket?

Jindal Stainless was the largest decliner, falling 2.37% to ₹701.35.

Data timestamp: 21 August 2026 at 4:15:00 PM IST.