STOCK WATCH

RISING Chinese demand for zinc has boosted production at Vedanta Resources.

The mining firm’s India unit dug up 452,000 tons of the metal in the six months to September 30 – up 42pc in a year.

Meanwhile, refined zinc production rose 53pc and output of refined lead climbed 32pc. Production of silver was up 30pc at 8.2m ounces.

Despite demand for Vedanta’s metals, the firm’s shares were dragged down by weakness in the wider sector, falling 3.3pc, or 30p, to 875p.