Punjab zone items netted further gains of Rs 10 to 20 a maund in the case of staple material. J-34 saw-ginned good average Punjab rose to Rs 1460-1555, Haryana to Rs 1430-1490 and Rajasthan to Rs 1430-1455 spot. Cart selected Punjab fetched Rs 1511-1615, Haryana Rs 1480-1541 and Rajasthan Rs 1450-1471. Roller-ginned good average Haryana and Rajasthan were quoted at Rs 1380-1400 and at Rs 1390-1400 respectively.

Bengal Deshi Punjab eased by Rs 10 at Rs 1025-1075. Haryana at Rs 1035-1040 and Rajasthan at Rs 1035-1050 were static. Arrivals were consisted of 3000 bales of Bengal Deshi and 15,000 bales of J-34.

Sanker ruled bettter by Rs 200 a candy at Rs 16,200-19,000. Other cottons held steady. Future cotracts hardened on buying support triggered by firm ready advices. February were up by 90 points at Rs 4160. April at Rs 4189 and June at Rs 4201 were up by 71 to 74 points .

Meanwhile, the cash starved Maharashtra federation is likely to cut the price. According to the trade circles, the federation has been able to make payment of Rs 850 crores from its total liability placed at Rs 2350 crores to the farmers. It has been able to dispose of only over one lakh bales from the procurent of around 24 lakhs. The unsold stock of 1.5 to 2 lakh bales from the old materials and the reduced pace of lifting of the goods already transacted has further squeezed the liqudity. Sales of cotton seed were also hit by the sales tax issues, they added.

New York March at 54.76 cents eased by 0.36. May shed 0.05 cents at 56.20. July turned cheaper by 0.16 at 57.40 while October shed 0.27 at 58.43 cents.

Sugar down
A dull-to-weak condition was in evidence on the sugar market on persistant slack demand.

The price in tenders lost sizeable ground on increased offerings triggered by a protracted sluggishness in offtake. M-30 were down by Rs 8 to 10 a quintal at Rs 1335-1350 while S-30 lost Rs 20 at Rs 1295-1315 as per the latest indication.

On the local market, M-30 were static at Rs 1410-1480. S-30 were quoted at Rs 1365-1415. Ex-octroi checkpost, M-30 were quietly steady at Rs 1385-1400 while S-30 shed Rs 5 at Rs 1350-1370.

Imported EEC-2 sugar was quiet at Rs 1530.

Gold further up
Gold prices lifted while silver was mixed on the bullion market here today.Standard gold shot up by Rs 55 at Rs 4,580 per 10 gm. Gold .22 carat was up by Rs 50 at Rs 4,235 per 10 gm. in sympathy. Prices of gold biscuit (116.50 gm.) hardened by Rs 600 at Rs 53,600 per piece.

Steady seasonal demand for gold influenced the upward trend as poor supplies and news of fresh rally in the overseas market kept offerings limited. In the global market gold placed higher at $289.10 as against $286.80 per ounce earlier.

Meanwhile silver .999 reacted by Rs 10 at Rs 8,065 per kg. on renewed supplies of 400/500 kg coupled with weak overseas advices. Silver .916 however placed Rs 5 up at Rs 7,955 per kg due to restricted local supplies of raw silver. In the global market the white metal slid from $5.14 to $5.11 per ounce.

G'nut oil drops
Groundnut oil extended losses on oil,oilseeds market here today. Castorseed and its oil maintained in the ready delivery and prices spurted further in the forward market.

Groundnut oil dropped from Rs 375 to Rs 370 per 10 kg in absence of buying interest. Fresh inflow also remained low due to severe cold weather in the producing centers, dealers said. In Rajkot groundnut oil ruled steady at Rs 600/605 per 15 kg.

Imported palm oil was down from Rs 208 to Rs 207 per 10 kg. In the global market palm oil placed steady at $347.50 per tonne. Castor oil closed quiet at Rs 355/367 per 10 kg on scattered overseas enquiries. Castorseed ready finished at Rs 1619/1625 per quintal on nominal trading.

In the futures section castorseed March delivery climbed from Rs 1619 to Rs 1634 per quintal following fear of crop loss owing to continued severe cold weather in the producing centers which had prompted active bull loading, according to floor sources.

In the international castor oil future market both February and April deliveries rose by Rs 2 at Rs 370 and Rs 375 per 10 kg respectively.In Ahmedabad castorseed February delivery quoted higher at Rs 1584.50 while April delivery closed at Rs 1,616 per quintal. In Gujarat arrivals of castorseed were placed at 30000/32000 bags.

Grains unchanged
A quietly steady condition was noticed on the grains market as the volume of business was very limited.

Wheat milling indigenous ruled at Rs 755-765, imported red at Rs 665-670 and white at Rs 711-715 a quintal. Rice Perimal just imported from Pakistan were traded at Rs 900-925. Indigenous Perimal medium and superior ruled at Rs 950-1150 and at Rs 1250-1300 respectively.

Imported pulses ruled almost unchanged. Rajma Chitra deshi were placed at Rs 2000 and Chinese at Rs 1700-1750. Red rajma Myanmar were on offer at Rs 1600-1625.

Tur Myanmar were placed at Rs 1275-1300, Malawi at Rs 1475-1500 and Kenya/Tanzania at Rs 1550-1575. Urad Myanmar were on offer at Rs 1925.