Metal stocks lead Nifty gains while banking and FMCG shares lag

Select metal and diversified stocks led gains on December 12, with Tata Steel, Hindalco, Grasim and Eternal emerging as top Nifty performers amid a rally in commodity-linked shares. In contrast, Bharti Airtel, Asian Paints, Axis Bank and Bajaj Finance ended lower, reflecting sectoral rotation as investors trimmed exposure to defensives and financials despite broader market strength during the session.