It was reported that recovery of oil from mustard declined to 36-38 per cent from 40-42 per cent, therefore, mustard oil costs higher to the millers. Prices of edible oils, in the overseas market, were also ruling higher.Steady-to-firm conditions were noticed on the Delhi grains and pulses market on Saturday.

Wheat flares up

A rumour was rife in the market circles, that the Govt. has introduced hike in procurement prices of wheat but they did not confirm it, consequently, wheat dara, on the local market, firmed up by Rs 5-10 at Rs 535-560 a quintal and wheat desi, Sharbati ofMP flared up by Rs 50 at Rs 900 a quintal. Similarly, wheat desi of Rajasthan edged up by Rs 10 at Rs 635 a quintal.

Roller flour mill atta, maida and suji was quoted higher by Rs 10 per bag in sympathy. Kabligram recorded a sharp spurt of Rs 100-125 at Rs 1750-2200 a quintal on holding of stock by the stockists coupled with decline in import. Among pulses, arhar flared upto Rs 1600-1721 from Rs 1525-1650 a quintal on reports of decline in production. Similarly, dal masoor, gram and its dal showed signs of improvement.

Mawana sugardeclines

Following buyers resistance at higher level, mill delivery sugar Mawana slipped by Rs 5 at Rs 1495 per quintal and sub-standard sugar of other mills slipped by Rs 8-15 at Rs 1332-1350 per quintal. The Govt. has not yet announced import duty on imported sugar.

Scattered demand in mill delivery sugar was reported at Rs 1495, Bundaki, Asmoli and Kashipur at Rs 1385, Kasturi at Rs 1380, Simbhauli at Rs 1460 and tax-paid Dhampur was traded at Rs 1505 aquintal.

Black pepper moves up

Black pepper golden, on the local market flared up by Rs 200 a quintal, Kalaunji registered a sharp spurt of Rs 200-500, ginger and poppyseeds shot up by Rs 500-600 a quintal amidst tight supply position from the producing centres coupled with decline in production.

Among dry fruits, on holding of stock by the importers, almond California climbed up by Rs 50 per 40 kgs. and almond gurbandi flared up by Rs 200 at Rs 4600 amidst tight supply position coupled with paucity of ready stock. Copra Calicut and pistachio showed an easy tendency. Wedding demand in almond was reported good.

Silver spurts

The Delhi bullion market displayed a firm tendency on Saturday.

In the absence of fresh inflow of imported silver in the past 3-4 days, because of holidays coupled with holding of stocks by the importers, spot silver .999 flared up by Rs 60 at Rs 9060 a kg, while silver weekly delivery, on profit taking selling by the bulls, dipped by Rs 20 at Rs 8930 a kilo gram.No change was recorded in silver coins at Rs 10500-10700 per 100 pieces. In the expectations of inflow of imported gold by evening on Saturday coupled with slack demand from jewellers, gold biscuit and standard mint gold slipped by Rs 20 at Rs 4315 and Rs 4330 per 10 gram respectively. Gold sovereign remained unaltered at Rs 3500-3550 per 8 gram.

Twines decline

A. Twill firmed up further by Rs 25 per 100 bags on lack of wholesale stocks coupled with increased demand. Harapatta also shot up by Rs 25-50 at Rs 1700-1900 per 100 bags on better demand from rabi produce fillers. B. Twill (2 & 2¬ lbs) remained unchanged firmly. Twines (3x14 and 28lbs) declined by Rs 25-50 at Rs 1475 and Rs 1400 per quintal on increased inflow from Nepal and Calcutta. Hessians were dull.

Waste yarn easy

Waste yarn (2) eased by Re 1 per bundle on declined demand from durree, carpet and duster weavers. Hank, cone and hosiery yarn continue to lack demand.

Deshi cotton prices eased by Rs 10-30 per 40 kgs. inRajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.

Thymol slumps

Citric acid China marked lower by Rs 50 at Rs 3350 per 50 kgs on poor local and upcountry buying. Thymol slumped further by Rs 25 at Rs 400 per kg. whereas on local buying, mentha oil and menthol bold edged up by Rs 3-5 per kg. Sodium hydro sulphite China was down by 50 paise per kg. Other chemicals remained unchanged.

Nickel, copper firm

Nickel plate (4x24) of Inco edged up by Rs 4 at Rs 352 per kg. following tight wholesale concerns. Copper wire bar, rod, its wire, copper utensils, mixed, scrap and accessories, firmed up further by 50-75 paise per kilo gram on poor arrivals while the demand from consuming units was quiet good.

Brass accessories, Bharat scrap, chadripital and gun metal scrap also edged up by 50 paise to Re 1 per kg. Zinc slab firmed up by Rs 1.25 at Rs 74.25 per kg on around 250 tonnes mutual transactions by the speculators for 22-30 April delivery at Rs 72.50 a kg. Tin ingot eased by Re 1 a kg on lack of sales.