Standard gold moved up by Rs 10 at Rs 4,020 per 10 gm. Gold .22 carat was up by same margin at Rs 3,720 per 10 gm. Prices of gold biscuit (116.50 gm.) hardened by Rs 150 at Rs 47,150 per piece. Demand for gold was sluggish but tight spplies and recovery in the global market as well as upsurge in dollar value against rupee attributed to the rise, according to dealers. In the overseas market gold edged up from $253.35 to $254.50 per ounce.

Meanwhile silver .999 climbed by Rs 40 at Rs 7,995 per kg. Silver .916 was shot up by Rs 50 at Rs 7,875 per kg. Industrial buyers were active during the day while lack of ready stock and tight supplies from Ahmedabad influenced the sentiment of the market which remained bullish. Communal riots in Ahmedabad had dried up arrivals of silver from Ahmedabad to city market, one broker added. Higher Delhi and international advices kept offerings restricted duringthe day. In the overseas market the white metal was up by 5 cents at $5.18 per ounce.

Sugar hardens

Sugar price hardened on the local market following transporters planning an indefinite strike.

The possible disruption in supplies due to transporters deciding to go on strike in protest aginst the toll tax has caused a noticeable push in price as buying picked up.

M-30 at Rs 1430-1520 and S-30 at Rs 1410-1433 a quintal ex-godown, netted gains of Rs 10. Ex-octroi checkpost, price shot up by Rs 12 to 15 as M-30 were quoted at Rs 1412-1430 and S-30 at Rs 1400-1410.Delivery orders were almost steady as M-30 were indicated at Rs 1355-1375 and S-30 at Rs 1343-1350 in Kolhapur line.

Thai white sugar held steady at Rs 1300, exclusive of sales tax, ex-Kandla.

G'nut oil maintains

Groundnut ruled steady at the improved level on the oil,oilseeds market here today. Castorseed and its oil on the other hand extended gains on renewed covering by bears and shippers in the wake of steady overseasenquiries.Groundnut oil remained unchanged at Rs 360 per 10 kg. amidst demand resistance but arrivals were limited. In Rajkot prices ruled quiet at the improved level of Rs 590/595 per 15 kg.

Imported palm oil lost gained ground and closed Rs 3 lower at Rs 199 per 10 kg on weak overseas advices. Palm oil prices in the international market eased by $5 to $335 per tonne, it was learnt.

Castor oil however lifted up by Rs 4 at Rs 386/398 per 10 kg. Castorseed ready shot up by Rs 20 at Rs 1774/1780 per quintal.

In the futures section castorseed September delivery placed higher at Rs 1,789 from Rs 1,763 before concluding at Rs 1,786 per quintal. In Ahmedabad September delivery quoted at Rs 1,767 and in Rajkot it was closed at Rs 1,766 per quintal.

In the international castor oil future market the trend was quiet. Both August and October delivery remained unchanged at Rs 394 and Rs 400 per 10 kg. respectively. December delivery finished at Rs 397 per 10 kg.

Cotton subdued

A dull-to-subduedcondition continued on the cotton market following extremely slack demand.

V-797 ruled at Rs 12,600-13,000, Wagad at Rs 12,100-12,200 and Kalan-ginned at Rs 11,700 a candy. Sanker were quoted in the range of Rs 15,500-20,200 spot.

Meanwhile, improvemnt in New York cotton was also halted. October lost 1.16 cents at 50.85. December at 51.72 shed 0.68, March at 52.70 was down by 0.73 and May at 53.60 surrendered 0.55.

Delhi

Pulses, at the local grains and pulses market showed a mixed tendency while wheat dara, common basmati rice recorded gains on Tuesday.

Daily arrival of wheat from the neighbouring states plummeted from 12,000-13,000 to 6,000-7,000 bags coupled with good demand from local flour millers, wheat dara firmed up by Rs 7 at Rs 685-692 a quintal. Dupticate and Sharbati rice which are mixed into common basmati rice flared up by Rs 200 at Rs 2100-2400 a quintal, consequently, common basmati rice recorded a sharp rise of Rs 75-200 at Rs 3000-3875 a quintal. New rice Gobinda of Haryanawas traded at Rs 950 a quintal. Oats plummeted by Rs 50 a quintal on stockists selling.

Zeera flares up

Cloves, nutmeg and mace, at the local market, slipped by Rs 5-15 a kg due to lack of speculative buying. Cardamom brown, however, looked up by Rs 5 a kg as supply line was shattered due to heavy rains.

Zeera further flared up by Rs 200 at Rs 7900-9500 a quintal on speculative buying while turmeric tumbled down by Rs 50-100 a quintal due to sluggish offtake by the exporters.

Among dry fruits, dry dates, crashed by Rs 100-500 a quintal on inflow of new dry dates from Pakistan coupled with dull demand. New dry dates were traded low at Rs 1911 and high at Rs 2811 per quintal.