Imported palm oil moved up by Rs 3 at Rs 201 per 10 kg on expected hike in import duty. In the global market palm oil moved to $357.50 for nearby delivery and to $360/362.50 for long delivery, it was learnt.

Castor oil edged up by Rs 2 at Rs 360/372 per 10 kg. Castorseed ready were up by Rs 10 at Rs 1644/1650 per quintal in sympathy.

In the future section castorseed December delivery spurted from Rs 1652 to Rs 1670 before settling at Rs 1673 per quintal. March delivery advanced from Rs 1670 to Rs 1681 per quintal. In Ahmedabad February delivery rose to Rs 1695 and December delivery placed at Rs 1657 per quintal. Castorseed spot prices lifted to Rs 320/325 per 20 kg while castor oil changed hands at Rs 360/365 per 10 kg in Gujarat.

Silver declines
Gold prices ruled firm while silver remained weak on the bullion market here today.

Silver .999 declined by Rs 40 at Rs 7,995 per kg. Silver .916 was down by Rs 5 at Rs 7,855 per kg in sympathy. Industrial and seasonal demand for silver was at a low ebb as steady supplies of raw silver from local sources kept prices under pressure. Delhi was subdued but in the global market the white metal looked up from $5.08 to $5.11 per ounce.

Gold standard was quiet at Rs 4,600 per 10 gm. so was gold .22 carat at Rs 4,255 per 10 gm. Prices of gold biscuit (116.50 gm.) lifted further by Rs 100 at Rs 53,900 per piece. Physical demand for gold was slow but tight supplies kept prices bullish on stray speculative interest. In the overseas market gold declined by 50 cents at $292.25 per ounce.

Sugar gains
A steady-to-slightly better trend was noticed on the sugar market following buying support.

M-30 at Rs 1445-1510 and S-30 at Rs 1430-1490 a quintal, ex-godown were up by Rs 5. Ex-octroi checkpost, M-30 at Rs 1435-1445 and S-30 at Rs 1415-1425 were steady.

In tenders, M-30 gained Rs 5 at Rs 1380-1390 while S-30 were maintained at Rs 1360-1370 as demand from Gujarat and Rajasthan continued.

Grains subdued
A slightly subdued condition was witnessed in wheat on the grains market. Elsewhere, a quietly steady condition continued.

Wheat arrivals were better which had depressed the price of medium varieties by Rs 5 to 10 a quintal. Wheat milling indigenous at Rs 785-790 and imported ex-dock at Rs 625 were static. Wheat North Guajrat Sonaklyan were placed at Rs 820-825, Tukadi at Rs 830-840 and 496 at Rs 875-881.

Maharashtra SRT were on offer at Rs 865-875. MP 147 and Sarbati were traded at Rs 900-925 and at Rs 950-1400 respectively.

Rice ruled unchanged. Perimal new were quoted at Rs 950-975. Superior old Perimal fetched Rs 1200-1300. AP Kattar found sellers at Rs 1050-1100 and Cultured Kolam at Rs 1500-1700.

Among pulses, green peas Rumba/Heart were on offer at Rs 1325. Canadian were traded at Rs 950-1000. Australian gram ruled at Rs 1400. Kabuli gram A-2 Mexican at Rs 4100, USA at Rs 3600 and Turkish at Rs 3400 were steady. B-2 were placed at Rs 2900-3000. C-2 average were on offer at Rs 2000-2200 and superior at Rs 2300-2500. Natural kabuli gram ruled at Rs 2500-2700.

Cotton eases
An easy condition continued in Punjab cotton following increased pressure of arrivals.

The arrivals in Punjab zone were 16,000 bales comprising of 4000 bales of Bengal Deshi and 12,000 bales of J-34. Bengal Deshi roller-ginned Punjab ruled at Rs 1135-1190, Haryana at Rs 1160-1165 and Rajasthan at Rs 1185-1200 a maund spot.

J-34 saw-ginned good average Punjab were placed at Rs 1525-1595, Haryana at Rs 1445-1505 and Rajasthan at Rs 1440-1470. Cart selected were on offer at Rs 1650-1670, at Rs 1520-1530 and at Rs 1500-1515 respectively. J-34 roller-ginned good average Punjab and Haryana were quoted at Rs 1530-1540 and at Rs 1400-1410 respectively while Rajasthan ruled at Rs 1390-1415.V-797 at Rs 13,000-13,500, Wagad at Rs 12,800-12,900 and Kalan-ginned at Rs 12,000-12,100 as also Sanker in the range of Rs 17,000-18,500 a candy were unchanged.

Futures moved narrowly. In New York, the price dipped further. December at 50.56 cents shed 0.12. March eased by 0.43 cents and ruled at 51.96. May at 53.24 and July at 52.28 shed 0.36 to 0.38 cents.