Date:14/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/12/14/stories/2005121401461200.htm

Back Sheet rubber sheds profits on sales

Our Correspondent

Kottayam , Dec 13

SPOT rubber prices were almost steady on Tuesday. Selling at higher levels kept the market under pressure throughout the session, though most of the grades ended flat with a decline in volumes.

Sheet rubber, the loser of the day shed 50 paise to close at Rs 69.50 a kg at Kottayam. The grade was quoted unchanged at Rs 69.50 at Kochi.

NMCE rubber turned weak following the sharp decline in international futures. The December contract was traded at Rs 69.50 (70.25), January contract at Rs 70.09 (71.04), February contract at Rs 71.20 (72.37) and March contract at Rs 72.20 (72.78) per kg for RSS 4. The transactions totalled 1,584 lots, with 3 lots in December, 946 lots in January, 334 lots in February and 301 lots in March till mid session.

The January futures for RSS 3 lost heavily to 208.8 Yen from 217.8 Yen at TOCOM. The grade improved sharply Rs 79.41 from Rs 76.94 a kg at Bangkok spot.

Spot prices a kg were: RSS-4 : 69.50 (70.00), RSS-5 : 67.75 (67.75), ungraded : 66.00 (66.00), ISNR 20 : 67.50 (67.50) and latex 60% : 49.00 (49.00).