KOTTAYAM, FEB 28:
Physical rubber prices showed a mixed mood on Thursday. Selected counters improved on fresh buying and short covering as the sentiments were catalysed partially by the hike in the import duty of natural rubber (NR).
But the market seemed to be missing the charm possibly as it is moving slowly towards the end of the current fiscal.
Sheet rubber finished flat at Rs 158 a kg according to traders. The grade was unchanged at Rs.157.00 a kg both at Kottayam and Kochi, according to the Rubber Board.
The March futures dropped to Rs 156.60 (Rs 158), April to Rs 161.90 (Rs 162.96), May to Rs 166.20 (Rs 166.49) and June to Rs 168.20 (Rs 168.86) a kg while the July series continued to remain inactive on the National Multi Commodity Exchange (NMCE).
RSS 3 (spot) inched up to Rs 161.48 (Rs 161.05) a kg at Bangkok. The March futures increased from ¥270.10 a kg to ¥273.0 (Rs 161.17) on Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM).
The spot rubber rates Rs/kg were: RSS-4: 158.00 (158.00); RSS-5: 153.00 (152.50); Ungraded: 148.00 (148.00); ISNR 20: 153.50 (153.00) and Latex 60%: 100.00 ( 99.00).
Source: Business Line
