Standard gold moved up by Rs 20 at Rs 4,450 per 10 kg. Gold .22 carat was up by Rs 15 at Rs 4,115 per 10 kg in sympathy. Prices of gold biscuit (116.50 gm) shot up from Rs 51,750 to Rs 52,100 before settling at Rs 52,000 per piece. In the global market gold moved up from $264.25 to $268 per troy ounce. Setback in dollar value against rupee in the domestic market had however little impact on the bullion prices owing to tight supplies and firm overseas advices, one broker said. Dollar prices slipped from Rs 46.48 to Rs 46.41 during the week on account of heavy taxation on precious metals in Mumbai and Maharashtra. Bullion traders were preferring supplies from Gujarat particularly from Ahmedabad earlier due to lower taxation in Gujarat. However in the wake of massive earthquake supplies of gold and silver from Ahmedabad to the city remain at a low ebb and most of the couriers kept this service closed. Supplies through couriers is likely to restore from February 5, it was reliably learnt.

Meanwhile silver .999 climbed by Rs 70 at Rs 7,900 per kg. Silver .916 was up from Rs 7,725 to Rs 7,790 per kg in sympathy. Delhi was firm and in the global market the white metal reacted from $4.78 to $4.76 per troy ounce at the end of the week.

OIL, OILSEEDS: Groundnut oil moved in a narrow band and finished on a steady note on the oil, oilseeds market here on Friday. Castorseed and its oil on the other hand suffered fresh losses owing to halt in the export due to major damages at Kandla port amidst widespread earthquake in Gujarat.Groundnut oil ruled quiet at Rs 305 per 10 kg. Trading activity remain slow in absence of buying interest. Besides arrivals from Gujarat was negligible during the week. Rajkot markets more-or-less closed and prices were nominally quoted at Rs 515 per 15 kg.

Imported palm oil here moved in both ways and placed steady at Rs 198 per 10 kg. In the global market palm oil rose to $217.50 per tonne and settle down at $215 per tonne. Long deliveries were quoted at $222.50/230 per tonne.Meanwhile supplies of imported edible oil remain restricted in the local market particularly from Gujarat which in turn importers became reserved sellers, according to a broker. Castor oil placed Rs 5 lower at Rs 280/282 per 10 kg. Castorseed ready were down by Rs 25 at Rs 1,250 per quintal in sympathy.

In the futures section castorseed April delivery opened during the week and was last quoted at Rs 1,248 per quintal but undercurrent was subdued. Maturing February delivery remain absent from trading during the week ahead of delivery period, floor sources said. Castor oil April delivery placed at Rs 298 per 10 kg while February delivery was untraded.

Palm oil futures market also was not traded in the most part of the week due to lack of buying interest among operators as everyone concentrating for rehabilitation of Gujarat after massive earthquake, it was said. In Ahmedabad castorseed April delivery was last quoted at Rs 1,252.50 and in Rajkot at Rs 1,253 per quintal but volume of trading was slow and most of the m are yards in Gujarat and Saurashtra remain closed during the week. Trading activity is likely to begin from Monday, it was learnt.