New Delhi, June 19 -- Metal stocks underperformed on Thursday, June 19, as the Nifty Metal index declined 0.5 percent in an otherwise flat market, marking its third consecutive session of losses. Over this streak, the index has dropped nearly 2.7percent, losing momentum that followed a robust 7 percent rally in May. Analysts attribute this pullback to profit-taking, a firm U.S. dollar, and renewed international tensions, especially over Middle East uncertainties and stalled U.S.-China trade negotiations.

After an impressive recovery last month, metal stocks saw investors locking in profits. The absence of a clear resolution in U.S.-China trade negotiations has dampened sentiment in commodities.

Concerns over escalating conflict in the M...