NEW DELHI, Apr 17: State-run MMTC has invited bids for import of 12,000 tonnes of RBD palmolein to be delivered by May 7.
Bids will open on April 23 and closes on the same day, the company said.
The first lot shipment of 6,000 tonnes should be delivered by April 30 and the rest by May 7, it said, adding that bidders will have to import the edible oil either from Indonesia or Malaysia.
The shipment should reach Kakinada and Krishnapatnam ports in Andhra Pradesh, it added.
India imports about 50 per cent of domestic requirement of vegetable oil. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Apr 17: Supported by pick-up in spot demand, jeera futures prices traded higher by 92.50 to Rs 11,665 per quintal in futures trade today on increased buying by speculators.
However, expectations of higher output this year capped the gains.
At the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, jeera for delivery in April month rose by Rs 92.50, or 0.80 per cent, to Rs 11,665 per quintal with an open interest of 3,507 lots.
Likewise, the spice for delivery in May contract traded higher by Rs 85, or 0.71 per cent, to Rs 12,055 per quintal in 16,971 lots.
Analysts said a firming trend at the spot markets on the back of a rise in demand mainly influenced jeera prices at futures trading here.
They said expectations of better crop this season limited the gains. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Apr 17: Crude palm oil prices improved by 0.11 per cent to Rs 618.60 per 10 kg in futures trading today due to increased demand in the spot market.
On the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude palm oil for delivery in April month traded higher by 70 paise, or 0.11 per cent, to Rs 618.60 per 10 kg in business turnover of 198 lots.
Similarly, the oil for delivery in May contract edged up by 50 paise, or 0.08 per cent, to Rs 624.60 per 10 kg in 556 lots.
Market analysts attributed to rise in crude palm oil futures to increased demand in the spot market. (PTI)

WASHINGTON, Apr 17: Presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney leads President Barack Obama by two points in the first national daily tracking poll in run up to November presidential elections.
While Romney is supported by 47 per cent of national registered voters, Obama has backing 45 per cent in the inaugural Gallup Daily tracking results from April 11-15. However, this comes within the three per cent margin of error.
Notably, 65-year-old Romney is yet to be formally declared the Republican presidential nominee.
Gallup said this initial report is based on interviews with 2,265 registered voters, and highlights the potential closeness of this year’s race, with Romney and Obama essentially in a statistical tie.
Gallup’s previous general election trial heat, from a national poll conducted March 25-26, showed Obama with a slight 49 per cent to 45 per cent lead over Romney.
However, according to the Real Clear Politics average of polls, Obama leads Romney by three per cent nationally, although the average doesn’t take into account the latest Gallup numbers. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Apr 17: Tracking a weak trend in global markets, copper prices fell by Rs 2.95 to Rs 411.80 per kg in futures market today as speculators offloaded their positions.
Trading sentiment weakened as copper fell in London as forecasts for growth in US industrial production can’t make up for signs of slowdown in China, the world’s largest buyer of the metal.
At the Multi Commodity Exchange, copper for delivery in April fell by Rs 2.95, or 0.71 per cent, to Rs 411.80 per kg in business turnover of 17,970 lots.
Similarly, the metal for delivery in June contract shed Rs 2.50, or 0.59 per cent, to Rs 417.70 per kg in 2,049 lots.
Market analysts said apart from weakening global trend, sluggish demand from consuming industries in the spot market mainly led to the fall in copper prices at futures trade.
Meanwhile, copper declined 0.3 per cent to USD 7,958.25 a tonne on the London Metal Exchange. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Apr 17: Pepper prices rose by Rs 150 to Rs 37,050 per quintal in futures trading today as speculators created fresh positions, supported by a rise in demand in the spot market.
At the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, pepper for delivery in April rose by Rs 150, or 0.41 per cent, to Rs 37,050 per quintal with an open interest of 1,357 lots.
Similarly, the spice for delivery in May contract moved up by Rs 115, or 0.30 per cent, to Rs 38,080 per quintal in 4,718 lots.
Analysts said fresh buying by speculators, driven by a rise in demand in the spot market, mainly led to rise in pepper futures prices. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Apr 17: Mentha oil prices fell by Rs 20.20 to Rs 2,420.60 per kg in futures trading today as speculators indulged in profit-booking at prevailing higher levels, supported by sluggish demand in the spot market.
Increased arrivals from the major producing belt of Chandousi in Uttar Pradesh also influenced mentha oil prices at futures trade.
At the Multi Commodity Exchange, mentha oil for delivery in April declined by Rs 20.20, or 0.83 per cent, to Rs 2,420.60 per kg in business turnover of 387 lots.
Similarly, the oil for delivery in May contract lost Rs 19.30, or 0.78 per cent, to Rs 2,447 per kg in 156 lots.
The fall in mentha oil futures was mostly due to profit-booking by speculators amid a weak trend at spot market on sluggish demand, analysts said. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Apr 17: Potato prices shed 1.48 per cent to Rs 1,086 per quintal in futures trade today, as speculators offloaded their positions, triggered by increased arrivals from producing regions at spot market.
At the Multi Commodity exchange, potato for delivery in May month fell by Rs 16.30, or 1.48 per cent, to Rs 1,086 per quintal in business turnover of 102 lots.
Likewise, the potato for delivery in April contract moved down by Rs 15.20, or 1.25 per cent, to Rs 1,204 per quintal in 57 lots.
Market analysts said speculators offloaded their positions on the back of increased arrivals from producing belts in the spot market mainly kept pressure on potato prices at futures market. (PTI)

MUMBAI, Apr 17: The Instanex Skindia GDR Index declined further by 9.02 points, or 0.40 per cent, to 2,239.19 as on April 16 from 2,248.20 in the previous session.
However, the P/E ratio moved up to 21.75 as 21.63 in the previous session, an Instanex Capital release said here today.
The following are the GDR and ADR rates for April 16 in US dollars, with the difference vis-a-vis the previous level given as a percentage in brackets: Company: Price Percent chg Dr Reddy’s Labs (ADR) 33.66 (+1.11) Gail (GDR) 41.62 (-0.79) Grasim Industries (GDR) 50.38 (-1.83) ICICI Bank (ADR) 33.49 (+0.63) Infosys Tech (ADR) 47.49 (-3.38) ITC (GDR) 4.67 (+1.76) L&T (GDR) 25.25 (+1.90) Mahindra & Mahindra (GDR) 13.12 (-3.03) Ranbaxy Labs (GDR) 9.80 (+3.27) Reliance (GDR) 28.88 (-0.38) Satyam Computer (ADR) 2.64 (unch.) State Bank of India (GDR) 86.72 (-0.95) Sterlite Industries (ADR) 8.23 (-1.20) Tata Communication (ADR) 8.74 (unch) Tata Motors (ADR) 28.85 (-3.33) (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Apr 17: Cardamom prices gained Rs 30.70 to Rs 1,331 per kg in futures trade today as speculators enlarged their positions, driven by rising demand for the ongoing marriage season in the spot market.
Less arrivals from Southern producing regions also supported the uptrend in cardamom prices at futures trade.
On the Multi Commodity Exchange, cardamom for delivery in June rose by Rs 30.70, or 2.36 per cent, to Rs 1,331 per kg in business turnover of 167 lots.
Similarly, the spice for delivery in May contract gained Rs 25.20, or 2.07 per cent, to Rs 1,244 per kg in 1,164 lots.
Traders said besides increased buying by speculators on the back of rising demand in the spot market, less arrivals from producing region mainly led to an upsurge in cardamom prices at futures trading. (PTI)