In New Delhi, in restricted trading, prices of low density (LD) declined on the plastic market today due to increased arrivals amidst reduced offtake and closed with small losses. Generally prices of other plastic ruled steady in selective activity. Ld no.40 and ld no.400 were lower by rupee one each at rs 45 and rs 47 per kilo respectively. The following were today's quotations per kg: ld no 40 - 45, ld no 400-47, ld no 1035-46, H.D. Moulding (deshi) 41, HD (moulding) imported 40, HD colour 48, PP no 0035-40, PP NO 100-38, PP imported 37, PP colour 48, ABS (Indian) 56, ABS imported 55-56, colour 64-66, crystal (Indian) 41, crystal (imported) 46, crystal colour 48, nylon no 6-115, nylon no 66-152, pvc resin deshi 35, pvs plastic grade 54 and dop standard 46.

Oil markets steady

In New Delhi, steady conditions were witnessed on the oils and oilseeds market today on small trading activities and prices after moving in a restricted range, closed at previous levels.Marketmen said arrival and offtake was at a low ebb and volume of business small. They said there was hardly any worthwhile trading activity which could impact the trend. The following were today's quotations per quintal: oilseeds: mustard seed 2050-2400, cottonseed 1400-1500, groundnut 1550-2050 and sesame 2400-2600. Vanaspati ghee (15 kg tin) 750-800. Edible oils: groundnut mill delivery 4100-4200, groundnut solvent refined (per tin) 725-800, mustard (per ltr) 72-80, mustard expeller 5250, mustard pakki ghani (per tin) 860, mustard kachi ghani 895-1000, sesame 4650, soyabean mill delivery 3400, cottonseed mill delivery 3600, sunflower 4350-4400, palmolein (rbd) 4150-4200 rice bran (physical) 3350 and coconut 900-920. Non-edible oils: linseed 4100-4200, mahuwa 2700-3200, castor 4000-4100, neem 2700-2775, rice bran 1825 and palm fatty 2850-2900.

Cotton prices easy

In Mumbai, prices showed a steady to easy trend on the sewree cotton market today due to restricted trading. Demand weas seen in qualitys4, y1, mech and J34. The total turnover was around 8000 bales. Following are some of the spot rates per candy. Gujarat s4 Rs 18,800/20,850, MP y1 Rs 17,600/17,700, MP lra Rs 18,500/18,600, MP HG Rs 19,000, MP hech Rs 19,400/ 19,500. Bhatinda J 34 SG Rs 1750/1755 per maund, Mansha Rs 1680/ 1685 per maund, mukatsar Rs 1820/1825 per maund and Haryana Rs 1725/1730 per maund.

Sugar prices firm up

In Mumbai, sugar prices firmed up on the Vashi wholesale sugar market today on good local demand amidst thin supply. Both small and medium varieties of sugar gained by around Rs.10 to Rs.15 per quintal. Following are today's rates per quintal with previous in brackets. Small quality sugar s-30 Rs.1480/1500 (Rs.1470/1490) and medium quality sugar m-30 Rs.1495/1540 (Rs.1480/1537).

Black pepper, copra prices rise

In Mumbai, black pepper prices rose sharply on the spices market here today on good local demand amidst restricted supply. However, copra prices ruled mixed. Black pepper prices rallied byRs.300 to end at Rs.10,800/12,000 per quintal, both copra Rajapur and copra edible firmed up on good demand by Rs.100 to close at Rs.4700 and Rs.4250 per quintal respectively. Meanwhile, copra from upcountry centres declined on low support base. Copra office Alleppey eased marginally by Rs.15 to close Rs.3510 while, copra office Calicut declined by Rs.85 to end at Rs.3450 per quintal. Following are today's rates per quintal with previous rates in brackets: black pepper ready (Mumbai) Rs.10800/12000 (Rs.10500/12000) ginger bleached Rs.3200/3500 (Rs.3200/3500) ginger unbleached Rs.3400/3700 (Rs.3400/3700) copra office Alleppey Rs.3510 (Rs.3525) copra office Calicut Rs.3450 (Rs.3535) copra Rajapur Mumbai Rs.4700 (Rs.4600) copra edible Mumbai Rs.4250 (Rs.4150).

Cotton prices rule steady

In Coimbatore, prices of all select cotton varieties including Maharashtra, ruled steady at South India Cotton Association (Sica) today. (prices per quintal in rs): Bengal deshi fine new crop (Pjb) 4233, wagad (Guj) NQ, V-797 (Guj) 4555, Jayadhar (Ktk) 4668, J-34-new crop (Pjb) 4848, F-414 (TN) N Q, LRA-5166 (TN) 5343, H-4 new crop (MP) 5399, lk-29 new crop (AP) 5736, Shankar-6-new crop (Guj) 5765, MCU-5-new crop(AP) 6748, DCH-32-new crop (Ktk) 7283. Group-1 Maharashtra: (all new crops) mech-1 ytl/amt 5708, h-4 ytl/amt 5708, lra-5166 nagpur/ytl 5342, nhh-44 ytl/amt 5174, ak.H-4/ak.235 n q, 1007 ytl/amt 5230, ahh-468 ytl/amt 5174.

Steel prices unchanged

In New Delhi, dec 28 (pti) there was not much activity on the local steel market today as prices remained unaltered on lack of demand and settled around previous levels. Traders said demand from neighbouring areas was negligible. The volume of business was restricted. The following were today's quotations per tonne: CTD saria (Kamdhenu) a -grade :8-mm 15400, 10-mm 15000, 12-mm 14400, 16 to 20 mm 14300 and 25 mm 14500. Tor steel 8 -mm 15300, 10 -mm 15000, 12-mm 14400, 16 to 20-mm 15200 and 25-mm 14600.

Tin ingot prices move down

In New Delhi, tin ingotprices declined on the non-ferrous metal market today on reduced stockists buying coupled with lower outside advices and closed lower. Elsewhere, prices generally moved in a narrow range and closed around previous levels. The volume of business was small. Tin ingot prices lost Rs 6 at Rs 355 per kilo owing to reduced demand from solder makers. The following were today's quotations per kilo: tin ingot 355, solder (40 per cent) 155, nickel 242-245, zinc slab 67, zinc dros 58, bell metal scrap 145, copper wire bar 113, copper rod 119, copper wire 120, copper scrap 99-100, chadripital 80, brass sheet cutting 83-84 and brass boring 67-68. Lead ingot 33, lead imported 39-41, aluminium (22 gauge) 100-101, aluminium (30 gauge) 108-111, aluminium (36 gauge) 11 6- 119, aluminium rod 88, aluminium cg ingot 84, aluminium wire scrap 79 and aluminium utensils scrap 69.

cut in oil-for-food deal: Iraq

Iraq's Trade Minister Mohammed Mehdi Saleh on Monday denied reports that Iraq would curtail the so-called"oil-for-food" deal with the United Nations and that it would ask UN relief staff to leave the country. "This information is not correct," Saleh told reporters."The (UN) observers can stay in Iraq as long as there is an oil-for-food programme." Saleh said he was misquoted when some media reports said that Iraq would curtail the oil pact and expel the United Nations observers, who monitor the distribution in Iraq of food and medicine bought under the programme.

Asked if Iraq would reject a further extension of the programme after it runs out in five months's time, Saleh said: "We have not made a decision on whether to cancel or maintain it.'' UN officials said Iraq had not notified them of anycurtailment of the oil-for-food deal and diplomats said they did not expect to hear anything on the issue for several months. "We have not been informed officially of anything," UN programme spokesman John Mills said on Sunday. The deal allows Baghdad to sell $5.256 billion of oil every six months to buy food,medicines and other supplies to ease the impact on ordinary Iraqis of the eight-year-old U.N. sanctions imposed for Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

Robusta coffe futures high

Robusta futures in London closed higher but activity was subdued. Front month January added $23 to close at $1,868 per tonne, while March last traded $10 higher at $1,800 per tonne. Analysts expect further recovery when the market re-opens on December 29, when news of the cold weather over the coffee growing regions in Mexico will be factored into the market. Arabica futures in New York ended sharply lower in shortenedpre- holiday dealings as speculators unloaded long positions ahead of the three-day Christmas weekend.

Front month March lost 3.65 cents/lb to close at 114.10 cents/lb, while May last traded 3.10 cents/lb lower at 115.00 cents/lb. With the latest CFTC commitment of traders report showingnon-commercials, or funds, and speculators (non-commercials and non-reportables combined), holding a net long position of8,149 lots and 12,823 lots, respectively, as of Tuesday, December 15, some traders reckoned end-of-the-year book-squaring led the market lower.