Following were today's quotations in Rs: ammonia bicarb (25 kg) 275-280 ammonium chloride (50 kg) 340-380, acetic acid (1kg) 28.00, boric acid technical (50 kg) 2350-2550, borex granular (50 kg) 1525-1550, caustic soda flake (50 kg) 720/740, citric acid (50 kg) (China) 3650, citric acid (50 kg) (Bombay dyeing) 4100 camphor slab (1 kg), 140 camphor powder (1 kg) 130 glycerine (1 kg), 60-65 hexamine (1 kg), 48 hydrogen peroxide (1 kg) 20 mercury (34.5 kg) 11000 menthol bold crystal (1 kg) 500 menthol flake (1 kg) 460 menthol oil (1 kg) 350.

Venezuela reports diesel spill: A tanker spilled about 7,000 barrels (1.1 million litres) of diesel into the Caribbean Sea off Venezuelasome of it washing up on beaches, authorities reported on Tuesday. The spill occurred on Monday while the Maritza Sayalero tanker was discharging fuel into shore-side tanks near the tourist town Higuerote about 100 kilometres east of Caracas. Oil workers deployed booms to contain the spill once it was detected, the state oil company said in a statement. The oil company said the spill created a slick about a kilometre and a half long, although radio journalists on the scene said it measured some four kilometres. Some oil had also washed up on the coast, the official statement said, and local radio reported three beaches closed by police. Venezuela is a major oil producer and the largest supplier of oil to the United States, but its Caribbean beaches are also a popular tourist destination. The oil company expected to remove all the oil from the sea by Wednesday, but radio reporters said dead fish and other marine life was already being washed ashore.

V-797 up, other varieties steady: In Coimbatore,prices of V-797 moved up marginally while all other select cotton varieties including Maharashtra remained steady at the South India Cotton Association today.

(Rates per quintal in Rs.): Bengal deshi fine (Punjab) 4125, wagad (Gujarat) 4133, V-797 (Gujarat) 4442, Jayadhar (Karnataka) N Q, J-34 (Bhatinda line) 5358, F-414/sg NQ, lra-5166 (TN) 5539, H-4 (MP) 5708, Lk-29 (AP) 6102, Shankar-6 5989, MCU-5 (AP ) 6608, Dch-32 (Mysore) 8154. Maharashtra varieties: Mech-1 yeotmal/Amravati 5821, H-4 yeotmal/Amravati 5821, lra-5166 Nagpur/yeotmal 5483, NHH-44 yeotmal/Amravti 5202, AKH-4/AK-235 5202, 1007-yeotmal/ Amravati 5202, ahh-468 yeotmal/Amravati 5202.

Waste yarn prices increase: In Delhi, waste yarn prices were up on the cotton yarn market on increased buying by rugs and carpet manufacturers and closed higher. Elsewhere, prices moved in a limited range on alternate buying-selling and finished around previous levels. The volume of business was small. Waste yarn Jyoti 2 count was higher by Rs.3 atRs.120 per kilo and Deepak 2 count gained Rs.6 at Rs.124 per kilo. In hank yarns, Gulabpura 20 count was down by rupee one at Rs.361 and KC textiles 2/6 quoted higher by Rs.4 at Rs.269 per kilo.

Steady trend at the cotton market: In restricted activity, prices ruled steady at the Sewree cotton market today. However, demand was noted for quality S4, 797, Mech, Y1 and G12 with a total turnover was only around 3000 bales. Cotton dealers feel that the heavy rains being noted in the Saurashtra-Kutch area of Gujarat could diversely effect the cotton prices in the coming days. Following were some of the spot rates per candy. Gujarat 797: Rs 15,600/16,000, Gujarat Digvijay +A+: Rs 17,800/18,000, Gujarat S4: Rs 17,500/22,500, MP Y1 Rs 17,000/18,500, MP Lra Rs 18,000/19,000, MP H4 Rs 19,000/19,500, and MP Mech Rs 19,700/21,000.

Japan rubber output for tyres down: Japanese rubber output for tyres totalled 93,631 tonnes in April, down 0.7 per cent from the same month last year and down 3.3 per centfrom March, the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers' Association said on Wednesday. Domestic rubber shipments in April amounted to 45,179 tonnes, down 14.2 per cent from the previous year and down 15.3 per cent from March, the industry body said. Exports of rubber for tyres in April totalled 45,793 tonnes, up 16.6 per cent from the previous year and up 3.1 per cent from March, it said. In the first four months of this year, rubber output for tyres totalled 360,433 tonnes, down 0.9 per cent from the same period a year earlier, it said.

Non-edible oils firm: In Delhi, prices of non-edible oils gained fresh ground on the oils and oilseeds market on brisk buying by stockists and local parties against restricted arrivals and closed higher. Marketmen said higher outside advices and reduced arrivals from producing centres mainly influenced the trading sentiment. The volume of business was fair. Linseed was up by Rs.25 at Rs.3750-3800 per quintal while Mahuwa oil was at Rs 2600-2950 per quintal from lastlevel of Rs 2525-2925. Palm fatty was up from Rs 2400-2600 to Rs 2600-2900 per quintal on increased buying. The following were today's quotations per quintals: oilseeds: mustardseed 1500-1650, cottonseed 1050-1150, groundnut 1390-1600 and sesame 1900-2000, Vanaspati ghee (15 kgs tin) 650-770, edible oils: groudnut mill delivery 4700, groundnut solvent refined (per tin) 740-775, mustard kachi ghani (per tin) 650-675, mustard pakki ghani (per tin) 620-630, mustard expeller 4115-4120, sesame 4000, saoyabean mill delivery 3500, cottonseed delivery 4100, sunflower 3940, palmolin 4170, rice bran (physical) 2560, rice bran (sp) 2650 and coconut (per tin) 740.

Gur prices move up: Gur dhayya and pedi prices moved up on increased demand coupled with paucity of stocks on the Delhi wholesale market today. Restricted arrivals in the wake of frantic buying helped prices to close higher, dealers said. Elsewhere, other commodity prices ruled steady on lack of buying interest. Dhayya hardened from Rs 1250-1275 tosettle at Rs 1270-1300 per quintal on steady inflow of buying. Pedi also traded higher at Rs 1275-1325 per quintal.

LIFFE grains close lower: Liffe wheat futures closed 50 to 75 pence lower due to increased seller activity and a rise in the value of sterling during the afternoon session, said brokers. Liffe wheat futures were pressured early in the day as sell ers emerged prior to the harvest due to expectations of a bumper crop and limited storage space, brokers said. High carry-over grain stocks from the 1997-98 season and expectations of a bumper 1998 crop mean storage space is likely to be at a premium. Brokers added that sellers were also concerned over a volatile weather market developing ahead of the harvest. "Sellers are now worried over `weather' markets emerging," said an investor.

Hong Kong gold opens easier: Hong Kong spot gold opened easier in early Wednesday trading, extending its declines in New York overnight, and dealers said prices remain under pressure. Bullion opened atUS$292.90/293.40 an ounce, down from New York's US$293.40/90 close on Tuesday and Hong Kong's previous close of US$294.80/295.30. "Gold was pushed down on news that the European Central Bank would probably hold less gold in its reserves than the market expected," said a dealer at a local bullion house. "The stronger U.S. Dollar against the yen also prompted gold selling. "Sentiment is still bearish and the price of gold could godown further near term," he added.

Tin moves higher on London advices: Tin prices rose smartly on the non-ferrous metal market in Delhi on higher London Metal Exchange (LME) advices along with paucity of stocks and closed higher. Marketmen said fresh demand by solder making units also influenced the rising tin prices. They said imported nickel and lead remained in keen demand and improve further following rising US dollar price against Indian rupee. The volume of business was good. Tin ingot was higher by Rs 8 at Rs.370-371 per kilo on brisk buying by solder making units.Nickel (Russian) was further higher by rupee one at Rs 295-296 per kilo and lead imported moved up by Rs 3 at Rs 44-45 per kilo.