Metal stocks extended their sharp rally for the third consecutive session on January 29, led by Hindustan Copper, even as broader equity markets traded under pressure. The Nifty Metal index jumped over 2 percent, scaling a fresh lifetime high of 12,359.05, defying weakness in benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty. Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL) emerged as the star performer on the index, with shares surging as much as 18 percent to hit an all-time high of ₹745. Hindustan Copper has also been witnessing unusually heavy trading volumes, with nearly 89.6 lakh shares changing hands on the BSE, almost three times its recent daily average—signalling strong institutional and retail interest. As of 12:41 pm, Hindustan Copper shares were trading over 12 percent higher at ₹631, significantly outperforming the Nifty Smallcap 100, reinforcing its status as a key proxy for India’s booming copper and metals theme.