The Indian Express The Financial Express Latest News Elections '98 Express Investment Week Market Indicators Screen Express Computers Travel & Tourism Advertisers Forum Information Technology Drumbeat: Ad Buzzaar Astrosurf Eco-India Career India Business Forum Match Maker Express Properties

Corporate Economy Expressions Markets Leisure 09 February 1998   Unit Trust of India, SHCIL to tie up for stock-lending Unit Trust of India (UTI) and Stock Holding Corporation of India (SHCIL) have decided to jointly get into stock-lending. SHCIL will be a "directed lender" on behalf of UTI and will receive a commission for its services. The custodian has already received clearance from SEBI for stock lending.   Foreign entities may have to cough up more than locals for castor-futures card Foreign nationals or entities seeking membership on the world's first international castor oil futures exchange will have to shell out a minimum of Rs 16.5 lakh to the Bombay Oilseeds & Oils Exchange (BOOE). BOE has approved the rules and regulations of the internatioanl futures trading wing which has decided that members will have to pay 5% trading margin on sale and purchase of value of contracts. Silver's dream run: Will it continue? It has been an exhilarating few weeks for silver punters. From Rs 8,290 a kg on January 23 to Rs 9,260 on February 6 in Mumbai, and from $5.82 to $7.68 an ounce in London, silver has had a fantastic run. The meteoric rise was prompted largely by the disclosure that contrarian investor Warren Buffett had bought up 129.7 million ounces of silver. Sensex's short-term target will be 3,525 before turning around The BSE Sensex closed at 3,366.70 points on February 6, a gain of 136 points against last week's index when the overall trading was dull and the market witnessed a drop in the volumes. Market participants are unwilling to make long term commitments with the current unstable economic situation and uncertain developments on the political side.   Coconut oil continues to be very volatile; but is futures trading the answer? Coconut oil prices are unlikely to attain stability in the coming days according to the trends in the last two years. Prices experienced wide swings last year and a record of sorts was created for maximum price volatility in the Kochi market between January 4 and 13, 1997. The price on January 4 touched Rs 6,825 per quintal and crashed to Rs 5,225 on January 13. Pepper exports touch new high The country recorded an export of 42,669 tonnes of black pepper in 1997 compared to 37,196 tonnes in 1996. This has been despite a poor performance in the last quarter of 1997.     Indonesia steps up work on private debt issue   Domestic prices on the upswing at auctions   Widening of demand-supply gap may help shore up rubber price   Commodity Briefing   Commodity Briefing   Food, fertiliser production likely to be lower this year   RBI panel to probe drop in agricultural credit offtake   Commodity Briefing   Low demand aggravates aluminium crisis   Commodity Markets   Commodity Briefing   Castor-oil contracts to face 5% margins on sales or purchase