BUZZ-India's Hindustan Zinc gains on pact to develop zinc batteries

** Shares of Hindustan Zinc HZNC.NS rise 3.3% to 669 rupees

** Stock top gainer on Nifty Metals index .NIFTYMET, which is up 0.60%

** Co said on Friday it has signed memorandum of understanding with U.S.-based AEsir Technologies for developing zinc batteries, making HZNC the preferred supplier of zinc for AEsir

** Seventeen analysts covering the stock on avg have a "sell" rating, vs a "buy" rating on most stocks on the 15-member metal index

** HZNC trading at ~97% premium to median PT of 340 rupees - LSEG data

** Stock up 111% so far this year; eyes best yearly gain since 2009

(Reporting by Ashna Teresa Britto in Bengaluru)

((AshnaTeresa.Britto@thomsonreuters.com ; ( +91 8078332441))