Castor oil commercial and FSG qualities declined by Rs 6 each to Rs 388 and Rs 400 per 10 kg, respectively, on dull industrial offtake against normal supplies yesterday. Groundnut oil held steady at Rs 360 per 10 kg on subdued demand coupled with modest arrivals.
Imported RBD palmolein and imported soy oil refined weakened by Rs 2 and Rs 4 to Rs 210 and Rs 221 per 10 kg, respectively, on dull industrial enquires and easy supply of stock.
Castorseeds June 2000 contract opened Rs 8 lower at Rs 1,806 a quintal and eased further to close at Rs 1,799. September contract opened Rs 45 lower at Rs 1,866 a quintal and slipped to Rs 1,858 on speculative movements.
Castor oil international contract April 2000 remained steady at its opening level of Rs 407 per 10 kg.
Castorseeds softened further by Rs 30 at Rs 1,790 per quintal on dull industrial demand. Nigerseeds looked up by Rs 25 at Rs 2,375 a quintal. Other oilseeds ruled steady.
Sugar: A subdued-to-steady trend was witnessed with both grades ruling subdued-to-dull on slack demand.
Small-grade sugar (S-30) eased to Rs 1,380-1,410 a quintal against the previous level of Rs 1,378/1,415 on easy arrivals from upcountry centres and mills. Medium-grade (M-30) ruled steady at Rs 1,430-1,475 a quintal.
Sugar for check-post deliveries was quoted higher at Rs 1,365-1,385 a quintal for S-30 grade and Rs 1,404-1,440 for the medium grade.
Non-ferrous metals: A firm-to-steady trend was seen with scraps staying firm and virgins edging upwards. The demand was better against normal supply.
In scraps, copper heavy scraps, copper utensils, brass utensils and brass sheetcuttings firmed up by 50 paise each to Rs 118, Rs 101, Rs 91 and Rs 97 a kg, respectively, on restricted arrivals of imported materials against improved industrial demand. Aluminium utensils ruled steady at Rs 69 a kg.
In virgins, nickel cathodes and tin slabs improved by Rs 2 and Rs 4 to Rs 610 and Rs 376 a kg, respectively, on shortage of ready stock.
Copper wirebar and zinc slabs looked up by 50 paise and 25 paise to Rs 126 and Rs 89.50 a kg, respectively, on better demand while lead ingots eased by 25 paise at Rs 34.75 a kg. Aluminium ingots ruled steady at Rs 90.50 a kg.
Bullion: A mixed trend prevailed in precious metals yesterday. Silver ruled divergent while gold remained firm.
Silver .999 eased by Rs 15 at Rs 7,825 a kg on weak overseas advices and dull offtake while silver .916 firmed up by Rs 10 to Rs 7,715 a kg on firm industrial as well as local offtake. The demand was modest. Delhi advices indicated a moderate trend.
Standard gold and 22-carat gold firmed up further by Rs 20 and Rs 15 to Rs 4,370 and Rs 4,040 per 10 gram, respectively, on firm overseas advices and modest local offtake. Gold biscuits prices improved by Rs 300 to Rs 51,100 per piece.
