Gold in London edged up by $2 to $289 an ounce and there was no inflow of imported gold on Wednesday, consequently, gold biscuit and standard mint gold firmed up by Rs 25 at Rs 4390 and Rs 4400 per 10 gram, respectively. Gold sovereign remained unchanged at Rs 3750-3800 per 8 gram.

Mumbai:Silver prices extended gains on the bullion market here today. Gold also closed firm in sympathy.

Silver .999 hardened by Rs 90 at Rs 7,675 per kg. Silver .916 was up by Rs 7,535 per kg. Industrial demand was slowbut shortage of ready stock, poor arrivals and firm global advices triggered fresh speculative buying. Delhi was encouraging and in the global market silver placed higher at $5.16/5.33 per ounce. Late evening in the kerb deal, the white metal quoted at Rs 7,800/7,825 per kg.

Standard gold rose by Rs 10 to Rs 4,360 per 10 gm. Gold .22 carat moved up by same margin at Rs 4,035 per 10 gm. Prices of gold biscuit (116.50 gm.) rose by Rs 200 at Rs 51,200 per piece. Seasonal demand was sluggish but tight overseas supplies and firm global advices kept the sentiment of the market bullish.

Masoor flares up

Wheat dara moved up from Rs 682-688 to Rs 685-690 a quintal as arrival from the neighbouring states was reported poor. Following rains in Punjab and Haryana, daily arrival of wheat in the mandies plummeted to 15-20,000 bags from 20-25,000 bags. Maharashtra and Gujarat buyers settled deals for wheat in Punjab and Haryana at Rs 660-665 a quintal.

Among pulses, masoor climbed up from Rs 1350-1475 to Rs1385-1525 a quintal as arrival of new masoor is likely to be delayed by a fortnight due to rains in producing areas. Masoor prices in the producing mandies also firmed up by Rs 20-30 a quintal. Gram and its dal revealed a firm tendency due to restricted supply.

Mustard oil declines

Mustard and its oil slided down by Rs 100 at Rs 1900-2050 and Rs 4900 a quintal, respectively as present rain was reported good for ensuing mustard crop coupled with sluggish demand while soyabean oil revealed a firm tendency on encouraging Indore advices.

Sesame oil plummeted by Rs 50 at Rs 4550 a quintal on selling pressure and in Mumbai, it was down by Rs 100 at Rs 4400 a quintal. Cottonseed oil slipped by Rs 20 a quintal on weak Abohar and Rajpura advices.

Mumbai: Groundnut oil ruled firm on the oil,oilseeds market here today. Castorseed and its oil maintained in the ready delivery while uptrend continued in the forward market section.

Groundnut oil rose by Rs 5 to Rs 422 per 10 kg on fresh consumer interestcoupled with eased new crop supplies. In Rajkot it was quoted steady at Rs 635/640 per 15 kg.

Imported palm oil reacted to Rs 343 per 10 kg exclusive of tax on fresh offerings. In the overseas market palm oil finished lower at $645 per tonne for nearby delivery and $635/640 per tonne for long delivery, it was learnt. Castor oil remained unchanged at Rs 385/399 per 10 kg amidst stray Chinese enquiries. Castorseed ready ruled quiet at Rs 1746/1752 per quintal. In the futures section castorseed March delivery lifted from Rs 1492 to Rs 1503 before concluding at Rs 1499 per quintal. Steady bull loading and higher upcountry advices attributed to the sentiment, dealers said. Bears and shippers were active in covering short position.

In Ahmedabad February delivery placed at Rs 1598.50 per quintal and in Rajkot at Rs 1589 per quintal. In Gujarat ready delivery ruled steady at Rs 340 per 20 kg and castor oil closed at Rs 370 per 10 kg.

Gur firm

Mill delivery sugar prices further slipped by Rs 5-10 at Rs1270-1430 a quintal due to sluggish festive demand. Imported sugar tax-paid in Amritsar was priced at Rs 1480. Mill delivery sugar new tax-paid Modi slipped by Rs 15 at Rs 1485 a quintal. Scattered demand in mill delivery sugar Kashipur was reported at Rs 1360 and tax-paid Dhampur and Khatauli at Rs 1460 and Rs 1450 a quintal, respectively.

Contrary to this, gur climbed up from Rs 960-1000 to Rs 1050-1150 a quintal as supply line was totally shattered due to rainy weather conditions.Spices remains dull

Pistachio Peshwari new further flared up by Rs 50 at Rs 800 a kg as its production in Pakistan was reported poor. In the last week of December, it was priced at Rs 650 a kg. Pistachio Hairati marked up by Rs 20 at Rs 490 a kg while Irani Pistachio held steady at Rs 275 a kg.

Business in spices remained dull due to rainy weather conditions. Black pepper and red chillies, however, ruled firm on encouraging producing centres advices.

Citric acid falls further

Citric acid fell further by Rs50 at Rs 3450 per 50 kg on the local market in expectation of further arrivals. The chemical has already lost Rs 150 in 3-4 days. The market sentiment remains weak, since rains and cooling down temperature has reduced offtake from cold drink and confectionary units.In menthol section, oil, bold and flake firmed up further by Rs 2 per kg following steady price reports from the producing markets of UP. DMO gained Rs 5 at Rs 90 per kg. Thymol, however, fell by Rs 10 at Rs 260 per kg.Nickel plate easy

Nickel plate (4x24) fell back by Rs 2 at Rs 251-280 per kg in the wake of dull response from electroplating units. Traders expected the Nalco to slash sales price of aluminium wire bar and rod by Rs 3-4 per kg. Aluminium sheet cutting, utensil and wire scrap, coil (22 & 36 gauge), thus fell by 50 paise to Re one per kg.

Copper products lacked in trade enquiries. Copper utensil, mixed scrap and wire scrap eased by 50 paise per kg. Brass accessories, Bharat scrap and brass boring marked up by 50 paise toRe one per kg. Zinc slab held steady.