New York silver future marked upto 662 cents from 656 cents an ounce coupled with holding of stock by the importers, spot silver .999 flared upto Rs 9000-9100 from Rs 8900 a kg but there were no transaction at these rates till noon on Saturday. Similarly, silver weekly delivery shot upto Rs 8890 from Rs 8875 a kg as its high by the operators till April 10, is fixed at Rs 8980 a kg. Silver coins flared up by Rs 100-200 at Rs 10500-10800 per 100 pieces.

New York gold firmed up by $6 to $308 an ounce and in the absence of sale by the importers, gold biscuit recorded a sharp rise of Rs 70 at Rs 4220 and standard mint gold was also up by Rs 70 at Rs 4230 per 10 gram. Gold sovereign moved up by Rs 25 at Rs 3500-3525 per 8 gram.

Gram Rajasthani slips further

In mixed marketconditions, gram and its dal prices continued to lose grounds on the Delhi grains and pulses market on Saturday.

In the wake of weak demand from stockists as well as dal millers coupled with pressure of offerings, gram Rajasthani further declined by Rs 30 at Rs 1080 a quintal while on Saturday last, they were priced at Rs 1200 a quintal.

Similarly gram dal slumped by Rs 35-40 at Rs 1190-1250 a quintal and besin in 35 & 70 kgs packings was down by Rs 15-30 at Rs 600-1200 per bag. This year, gram crop is expected to be higher and stockists as well as dal millers were anticipating further fall in prices. As against this, on firm MP advices, masoor and its dal recorded a gain of Rs 10-25 a quintal. Urad prices revealed a firm tendency due to decline in offerings. Roller flour mill atta, maida and suji looked up by Rs 5-10 per bag due to restricted supply from millers. Jowar recorded a gain of Rs 25 a quintal on good demand from seed traders.

Sugar dull

Gur, on the local market slumped by Rs 50 atRs 975-1050 a quintal as stockists support was not available. Business in sugar remained dull. Scattered upcountry festive demand was reported in the market. Mill delivery sugar Mawana was traded at Rs 1452, Modi at Rs 1380, Amroha at Rs 1375 and Anupshahar at Rs 1305-1325 a quintal.

Edible oils rise

In the first four months of 1997-98 oil year till February, import of edible oils was down by 33 per cent and on hectic buying by the stockists, edible oils prices showed a rising tendency.

On encouraging Mumbai advices, groundnut oil recorded a sharp rise of Rs 50 at Rs 4000 a quintal and on holding of stocks by the Rajasthan and Haryana operators, mustard oil local and UP firmed up by Rs 20-30 at Rs 3570-3630 a quintal. Fine quality sesame oil recorded a sharp spurt of Rs 50 at Rs 3800 a quintal and imported palmolein flared up by Rs 100 at Rs 3950 a quintal.

Zeera scales new high

Following hoarding tendency by the local stockists coupled with firm Unjha advices, zeera, on the localmarket scaled a new high of Rs 6500-8000, recording a sharp rise of Rs 200-300 a quintal. Zeera in Unjha mandi climbed up by Rs 100 at Rs 1300 per 20 kgs.

As against this, turmeric tumbled down by Rs 100-200 a quintal because of lack of support from local as well as upcountry buyers. Mace ruled easy due to poor offtake. Shillong mace was down by Rs 40 at Rs 625 a kg. and bold mace was quoted at Rs 600 a kg. Among dry fruits, almond California and Afghani ruled easy for want of support.

Twines firm

A. Twill, B. Twill, Harapatta and hessians were unchanged at the previous level on easy Calcutta advices and poor offtake. Twines were held firm on declined inflow and better offtake.

Hank yarn lower

Gulabpura (20) and Hansi counts in hank and cone yarn marked lower by Rs 1-4 per bundle on weak demand from handloom and powerloom units. Hank yarn Abohar (2-4 & 2-6) and cone yarn Setia, Hissar (4) eased by Rs 1-3 per bundle due to poor offtake. Yarn of other counts were unchanged on sluggishsales.

Citric acid declines

Following price hike by the manufacturers, soda ash marked up by Rs 10-15. Citric acid Bombay Dyeing declined by Rs 50 per 50 kgs on poor demand. Other chemicals remained dull due to Durga Ashtami.

Zinc slab shoots up

Zinc slab shot up by Rs 1.50 per kg as HZL hiked the sales prices and rebate on sales too was taken back. Aluminium wire bar and rod edged up by 50 paise per kg on stockists buying as they apprehended price hike by the manufacturers. Aluminium wire scrap also edged up by 50 paise per kg. Copper wire bar, rod, wire, copper utensils, mixed scrap and accessories, declined by 50 paise to Re 1 per kg on stockists unloading.

Potato spurts

Potato shot up by Rs 25-30 per 80 kgs as the arrivals declined to just 100 trucks. Punjab and UP varieties sold at Rs 350-425 and of Haryana at Rs 350-400. Phool garlic of UP firmed up by Rs 100 at Rs 500-550 per 40 kgs. on declined inflow.

Ginger lacked demand and was offered cheaper by Rs 25-100.Siliguri variety sold at Rs 600-650, Guwahati at Rs 550-600 and Tinsukia at Rs 650-700 per 60 kgs. Mushroom edged up by Rs 5-10 at Rs 60-65 per kg. on poor inflow of just two quintal.