The wholesale oils and oilseeds market offered a mixed trend during the week as select edible oil prices edged higher backed up by a pick-up in demand while a few others slid on adequate stocks as orders softened.
On the other hand, non-edible oils after moving in a tight range in the absence of worthwhile activity settled at their previous levels.
Traders said that besides rising demand from retailers, restricted supplies from producing regions led to the rise in select edible oil prices.
However, adequate stocks against subdued demand kept up pressure on other edible oil prices.
In the national capital, groundnut mill delivery (Gujarat) and cottonseed mill delivery (Haryana) oils inched up by Rs 50 each to Rs 9,100 and Rs 5,850 per quintal, respectively.
On the other hand, mustard expeller (Dadri) oil softened by Rs 50 to Rs 8,850 per quintal.
Palmolein (rbd) and Palmolein (Kandla) oils too shed Rs 50 each at Rs 5,350 and Rs 5,300 per quintal, respectively.
Meanwhile, soyabean refined mill delivery (Indore) and soyabean degum (Kandla) oils moved in a narrow range in limited deals and settled around previous levels of Rs 6,700 and Rs 6,400 per quintal, respectively.
In the non-edible section, linseed and castor oils after trading in a tight range in scattered deals ended the week at unchanged levels of Rs 9,100 and Rs 9,600-9,700 per quintal, respectively.
Grains: Rice basmati and maize prices went down at the
wholesale grains market during the week owing to subdued demand from retailers against adequate stock position.
However, barley and bajra ruled firm following an increased offtake by consuming industries against restricted supplies from producing belts.
Traders said muted demand from retailers against sufficient stocks on higher supplies from producing regions mainly pulled down rice basmati and maize prices.
They said, however, pick-up in demand from consuming industries and limited supplies from producing areas pushed up barley and bajra prices.
In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety, which remained steady for the major part of week on scattered support and met with resistance at the fag end, closed lower at Rs 5,600-5,700 and Rs 4,300-5,000 from previous levels of Rs 5,800-5,900 and Rs 4,400-5,100 per quintal, respectively.
Maize also declined by Rs 20 to Rs 1,630-1,650 per quintal.
On the other hand, barley and bajra moved up by Rs 20 and Rs 10 to Rs 1,450-1,460 and Rs 1,380-1,385 per quintal, respectively.
However, wheat deshi and wheat dara (for mills) moved in a tight range in scattered deals and settled around previous levels of Rs 2,000-2,600 and Rs 1,675-1,705 per quintal, respectively.
Pulses: Mixed conditions prevailed at the wholesale pulses
market during the week as select pulses led by arhar extended losses on adequate stocks. This was largely supported by a series of measures announced by the government, including curbs on hoardings of stocks to check spiralling prices and offloading of seized stocks in the market.
However, masoor and gram recovered on scattered demand from retailers.
Traders said ample stocks in the market following an improvement in supplies mainly kept pressure on select pulse prices.
Meanwhile, over 93,500 tonnes of pulses seized from hoarders have been offloaded in the retail market, the government said, adding that this will help curb prices of lentils further.
In the national capital, arhar remained under pressure and dropped from Rs 9,800 to Rs 9,000, while its dal dara variety eased to Rs 1,2800-14,800 against last close of Rs 13,500-15,000 per quintal.
Urad and its dal chilka declined by another Rs 100 each to Rs 8,900-9,900 and Rs 10,000-10,200 per quintal, respectively. Its dal best quality and dhoya followed suit and dropped by a similar margin to Rs 10,100-10,700 and Rs 10,500-10,900 per quintal, respectively.
Malka local and best quality ended lower at Rs 6,600-7,100 and Rs 6,700-7,100 from previous levels of Rs 6,700-7,000 and Rs 6,800-7,000 per quintal, respectively.
On the other hand, masoor small and bold recovered by Rs 50 each to Rs 5,550-6,550 and Rs 5,600-6,600 per quintal, respectively. Its dal local and best quality traded higher by Rs 100 each to Rs 6,800-7,000 and Rs 6,900-7,100 per quintal, respectively.
Gram, gram dal local and best quality finished higher at Rs 5,100-5,650, Rs 5,300-5,600 and Rs 5,500-5,800 as compared to previous levels of 5,000-5,550, Rs 5,200-5,500 and Rs 5,400-5,700 per quintal, respectively.
Sugar: Snapping its three-week rising streak, sugar prices
turned lower at the wholesale sugar market during the week as demand eased from retailers as well as bulk consumers against adequate stocks on higher supplies from millers.
Marketmen said that besides fall in demand, sufficient stocks on higher supplies, largely from millers, mainly pulled down sugar prices.
Moreover, reports of higher output in the current year weighed on sugar prices, they said.
Meanwhile, the country's sugar production rose by 13.2 per cent to 47.86 lakh tonnes till December 15 in the current marketing year on higher output from Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Sugar production in India, the world's second-largest producer and biggest consumer, stood at 42.29 lakh tonnes in the same period of 2014-15 marketing year (October-September).
Sugar ready M-30 and S-30 eased to Rs 3,060-3,200 and Rs 3,050-3,190 against last close of Rs 3,180-3,360 and Rs 3,170-3,350 per quintal, respectively.
Similarly, mill delivery M-30 and S-30 slipped to Rs 2,820-3,060 and Rs 2,810-3,050 from previous levels of Rs 2,920-3,200 and Rs 2,910-3,190 per quintal, respectively.
In the millgate section, sugar Mawana, Kinnoni, Asmoli, Dorala and Budhana moved down to Rs 2,960, Rs 3,060, Rs 3,060, Rs 2,960 and Rs 2,960 from last week's closing of Rs 3,090, Rs 3,200, Rs 3,200, Rs 3,090 and Rs 3,090 per quintal, respectively.
Thanabhavan, Dhanora, Simbholi, Khatuali, Dampur and Ramala also fell to Rs 2,950, Rs 2,900, Rs 3,040, Rs 3,000, Rs 2,900 and Rs 2,800 from previous levels of Rs 3,080, Rs 3,080, Rs 3,180, Rs 3,150, Rs 3,070 and Rs 2,920 per quintal, respectively.
Anupshaher, Baghpat, Morna, Sakoti,Chandpur, Nazibabad and Malakpur ended lower at Rs 2,890, Rs 2,810, Rs 2,800, Rs 2,920, Rs 2,840, Rs 2,800 and Rs 2,880 as against last levels of Rs 2,920,Rs 2,930, Rs 2,930, Rs 3,060, Rs 3,060, Rs 2,920 and Rs 3,030 per quintal, respectively.
Jaggery: There was no change in pattern of trading for yet another week at the wholesale gur (jaggery) market in the national capital as prices of select varieties of gur continued to rise on persistent buying by stockists to meet demand of the upcoming Makar-Sankranti festival amid restricted supplies from producing regions.
Muzaffarnagar and Muradnagar gur markets also extended gains on rising demand.
Marketmen said increased buying amid fall in supplies from producing areas due to adverse weather conditions mainly supported the upside in select gur prices.
Rising winter season demand also fuelled the uptrend, they said.
At Delhi, gur chakku edged up by Rs 50 to Rs 2,750-2,850 per quintal. Gur pedi and Dhayya also shot up by Rs 100 each to Rs 3,000-3,100 and Rs 3,100-3,200 per quintal respectively.
In Muzaffarnagar, gur khupra and Laddo too finished higher by Rs 50 and Rs 100 to Rs 2,450-2,500 and Rs 2,650-2,800 per quintal, respectively.
In line with overall trend, in Muradnagar, gur Pedi and Dhayya prices moved higher by Rs 50 each to Rs 2,600-2,650 and Rs 2,650-2,700 per quintal, respectively.
Dryfruits: Prices of select dry fruits fell at the
wholesale market during the week as demand from retailers and stockists eased at existing higher levels.
Marketmen said fall in demand at prevailing levels against adequate stock position following increased arrivals from producing belts mainly led to fall in almond and other dry fruit prices.
Lower trend in producing regions also dampened trading sentiment to some extent, they said.
Almond California fell Rs 200 to conclude at Rs 20,400 per 40 kg and its kernel prices eased by Rs 25 to finish at Rs 730-740 per kg.
Almond gurbandi and girdhi prices declined Rs 100 each to settle at Rs 10,000-10,300 and Rs 6,700-7,000 per 40 kg, respectively.
Chilgoza-roasted declined by Rs 50 to conclude at Rs 1,400-1,600 per kg.
Cashew kernel (No 180, 210, 240 and 230) prices eased by Rs 5 each to settle at Rs 780-790, Rs 700-710, Rs 625-630 and Rs 580-585 per kg, while its pieces (2, 4 or 8) placed lower at Rs 530-595, Rs 530-585 and Rs 495-545 as against the previous close of Rs 536-600, Rs 535-590 and Rs 500-550 per kg on subdued demand.
Copra (superior quality) drifted by Rs 700 to finish at Rs 14,000-17,000 per quintal.
Kishmish Indian yellow and green fell by Rs 100 each to conclude at Rs 3,900-4,400 and Rs 3,900-7,400 per 40 kg, respectively.
Pistachio hairati and peshawari prices declined by Rs 5 each to close at Rs 1,345-1,395 and Rs 1,420-1,495 per kg, respectively.
Walnut and its kernel prices also rose to Rs 20 to end at Rs 200-400 and Rs 725-1,050 per kg, respectively.
Kirana: Wholesale prices of pepper and jeera surged
during the week on increased buying by retailers and stockists driven by rising domestic as well as export demand.
Traders said increased offtake by local parties as well as stockists and a firming trend in most spices in futures trading mainly buoyed trading sentiment.
Strong demand from exporters and lower output estimates also influenced select spice prices, they said.
Black pepper prices rose Rs 5 to conclude at Rs 720-915 per kg.
Cardamom small varieties such as chitridar, colour robin, bold and extra bold surged Rs 10 to Rs 580-710, Rs 590-600, Rs 610-620 and Rs 680-690 per kg, respectively.
Cloves traded higher at Rs 555-675 against previous closing of Rs 550-670 per kg.
Coriander prices increased by Rs 100 to conclude at Rs 10,900-15,900 per quintal.
Dry ginger and kalaunji prices edged higher by Rs 500 each to settle at Rs 20,500-25,500 and Rs 21,000-29,500 per quintal, respectively.
Poppyseed (Turkey, China and MP-RAJ) improved Rs 5 each to Rs 350-390, Rs 360-380 and Rs 405-445 per kg, respectively.
Red chilli and turmeric prices rose up to Rs 800 to finish at Rs 11,000-17,500 and Rs 10,000-14,500 per quintal, respectively, on reports of damage to turmeric crop due to dry weather in Maharashtra and Karnataka too supported the upside.
Jeera common and jeera best quality also higher by Rs 100 each to end at Rs 15,200-15,700 and Rs 19,200-19,700 per quintal, respectively.
Bullion: Gold staged a comeback to close Rs 160 higher at Rs 25,690 per 10 grams at the bullion market during the week on emergence of buying by jewellers and retailers despite volatile trend overseas. Silver also strengthened.
Traders said fresh buying by jewellers and retailers mainly drove the recovery in the precious metal prices.
Globally, gold settled at USD 1,076.30 an ounce, after dipping to USD 1,070.80 an ounce, and silver ended at USD 14.38 an ounce after touching a low of USD 14.20 in New York.
In the national capital, gold of 99.9 per cent and 99.5 per cent purity commenced the week higher at Rs 25,600 and Rs 25,450 and rose further to Rs 25,750 and Rs 25,600 per 10 grams on fresh buying support from jewellers.
Later, it met with resistance at prevailing levels and slipped to Rs 25,550 and Rs 25,400 before bouncing back to close at Rs 25,690 and Rs 25,540 per, respectively, a rise of Rs 160 each.
Sovereign, however, moved in a tight range in limited deals and settled at previous week's close of Rs 22,200 per piece of eight grams.
Silver ready regained the Rs 34,000-mark, ended the week higher by Rs 500 at Rs 34,300 per kg and weekly-based delivery closed above 34,000 level at Rs 34,345 per kg by rising Rs 410.
Silver coins also jumped Rs 1,000 to Rs 48,000 for buying and Rs 49,000 for selling of 100 pieces.
