The BSE Metal index was down 3.59% to 15,874.28 and was the worst performer among the sectoral indices on BSE. It undeperformed the Sensex, which was down 1.39% to 17,026.04

Jindal Steel & Power (down 2.37%), Hindalco Industries (down 3.55%), Sterlite Industries (down 3.74%), Steel Authority of India (down 2.67%), National Aluminium Company (down 0.56%), Tata Steel (down 4.58%), Sesa Goa (down 4.73%) and Hindustan Zinc (down 2.31%), declined.

The BSE Metal index underperformed the market over the past one month till 13 May 2010, falling 9.76% compared with the Sensex's 3.12% fall. It also underperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 5.31% as against 6.89% rise in the Sensex.

Higher inflation in April 2010 have raised worries of further monetary tightening in China. China's consumer prices rose a more-than-estimated 2.8% in April from a year earlier, the fastest pace in 18 months. China is the world's largest consumer of copper and aluminum.