Date:21/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/12/21/stories/2005122102031200.htm

Back Covering groups remain dominant

Our Correspondent

Kottayam , Dec. 20

Physical rubber prices firmed up further on Tuesday. Covering groups continued to remain dominant, while all grades except latex improved in the absence of quantity sellers. The market players seemed to be expecting enhanced quotations from the major manufacturers.

Sheet rubber RSS 4 improved to Rs 70 a kg from Rs 69.50 a kg at Kottayam but the grade declined to 69.50 from Rs 70 a kg at Kochi.

Aft NMCE January contract was quoted at Rs 70.48 (70.95), February contract at Rs 72.50 (72.92), March contract at Rs 73.55 (73.85) and April contract at Rs 74.72 ( 75.10) a kg for RSS 4. The January contract for RSS 4 was quoted at Rs 71.25 against Rs 71.21 a kg on MCX. .

At TOCOM, the January futures for RSS 3 touched an intra-day high at 207.9 yen before closing at 200.1 yen against 199.9 yen a kg on Monday. The grade slipped to Rs 77 from Rs 77.26 a kg at Bangkok.

Spot prices a kg were: RSS-4 : 70 (69.50); RSS-5 : 68 (67.50);

ungraded : 66.50 (65); ISNR 20: 67.75 (67.25); and latex 60%: 48 (48).