Date:22/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/22/stories/2006022201981200.htm

Back Spot rubber tops Rs 80/kg again

Our Correspondent

Kottayam , Feb. 21

SPOT rubber firmed up on Tuesday. According to sources, the market continued to remain in the buyer's mode, expecting revised quotations from the tyre sector as the major global indices also ended in the green.

Sheet rubber RSS 4 improved to Rs 80 and Rs 80.50 a kg from Rs 79.50 and Rs 80 a kg respectively at Kottayam and Kochi.

Sellers kept a low profile, while the remaining grades stayed in tune with moderate gains on fresh demand.

Rubber futures were almost steady with March contract quoting at Rs 83.15 (83.11), April contract at Rs 86.10 (85.86), May contract at Rs 88 (87.94) and June contract at Rs 89.15 (89.06) a kg for RSS 4 on NMCE.

The total transactions till midday stood at 1,847 lots with 549 lots in March, 471 lots in April, 641 lots in May and 186 lots in June.

The March contract for RSS 4 was traded at Rs 82.50 against Rs 82 a kg on MCX.

RSS 3 improved to Rs 90.57 from Rs 89.78 a kg at Bangkok spot. The March futures for RSS 3 closed at 248.7 yen (Rs 93.11) against 246.1 yen a kg at TOCOM.

Spot prices a kg were: RSS-4: Rs 80 (79.50); RSS-5: Rs 79 (78.50); ungraded: Rs 77.50 (77.50); ISNR 20: Rs 78.75 (78.25) and latex 60 per cent: Rs 57 (56.50).