Groundnut oil eased by Rs 2 at Rs 368 per 10 kg yesterday on subdued demand coupled with normal arrivals of stock. Trading volume was thin and out-of-state orders indicated an easy trend.
Cottonseed oil washed and refined qualities declined by Rs 5 each to Rs 250 and Rs 260 per 10 kg, respectively, on dull industrial demand and easy supplies. Karanji oil and soya oil refined eased by Rs 5 and Rs 4 to Rs 210 and Rs 241 per 10 kg on improved supplies of ready stock coupled with weak offtake. Linseed oil eased by Rs 5 to Rs 300 per 10 kg on dull industrial demand. Imported palmolein weakened by Rs 2 at 232 per 10 kg.
Castorseeds June 2000 contract opened Rs 11 down at Rs 1,989 a quintal and moved up to Rs 1,998 before closing at its intra-day low of Rs 1986 a quintal. Castor oil international contract April 2000 was untraded while the June 2000 contract, which commenced yesterday, stayed at its opening of Rs 429 per 10 kg.
In oilseeds, castorseeds Madras firmed up by Rs 10 at Rs 1,925 a quintal on improved industrial interest.
Sugar: A firm trend prevailed amid improved demand. Small-grade sugar (S-30) firmed up further to Rs 1,495/1,545 a quintal against its previous level of Rs 1,485/1,540 on restricted availability of ready stock. Medium-grade (M-30) also looked up to 1,545/1,575 a quintal (Rs 1,535/1,580) on improved offtake against modest availability of ready stock. Sugar for check-post deliveries was quoted higher at Rs 1,470/1,500 a quintal for S-30 grade and Rs 1,515/1,540 for the medium grade.
Non-ferrous metals: Nickel and tin weakened further yesterday. In virgins, nickel cathodes and tin slabs declined further by Rs 3 and Re 1 to Rs 592 and Rs 378 a kg, respectively, on dull industrial demand and better inflows. Other metals held steady and were quoted as under: copper wirebar Rs 123.50, aluminium ingots Rs 89.50, zinc slabs Rs 88, lead ingots Rs 36 a kg.
All metal scraps held steady and were nominally quoted as under: copper heavy scraps Rs 116, copper utensils Rs 98.50, brass utensils Rs 87.75, brass sheetcuttings Rs 94.75 and aluminium utensils Rs 68.50 a kg respectively.
Bullion: A firm trend was noticed in precious metals yesterday. Silver .999 and .916 rose up by Rs 45 and Rs 65 to Rs 8,020 and Rs 7,890 a kg, respectively, on firm overseas advices and modest industrial demand. Delhi advices indicated a moderate trend.
Standard gold and 22 carat gold prices improved by Rs 35 and Rs 30 to Rs 4,475 and Rs 4,140 per 10 gram, respectively, on strong overseas advices and modest local offtake. Gold biscuits prices gained Rs 300 at Rs 52,200 per piece.
