Metal stocks down; Vedanta dips 4.4%

Metal stocks were under pressure today, falling by up to 4.4%, in an overall weak stock market amid weakness in China and depressed commodity prices the world over.

Shares of Vedanta fell 4.40%, Hindustan Zinc lost 3.67% and Coal India Ltd slipped 2.81% on BSE.

Among others, Tata Steel dipped (2.76%), Jindal Steel & Power was down (2.59%), Steel Authority of India Ltd (2.55%) and JSW Steel (1.63%).

The BSE metal index fell 2.60% to end at 6,708.35.

Sentiment spooked after mining major Glencore slumped to a record low on depressed commodity prices.

Concerns over economic slowdown in China, the biggest consumer of commodities and currency devaluation by the world's most populated country has hurt investors' sentiment.

In the stock market, the BSE Sensex tumbled 246.66 points to settle at 25,616.84.