Tepid import of gold in the last two months (Feb-March) of this financial year will help the government save some foreign exchange. The import bill for 2015-16 is now estimated at $31.5 billion, almost nine per cent lower from 2014-15.
5. MCX - WEEKLY NEWS LETTERS
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
✍ Gold
Tepid import of gold in the last two months (Feb-March) of this financial year will help the government save
some foreign exchange. The import bill for 2015-16 is now estimated at $31.5 billion, almost nine per cent lower
from 2014-15. Import in February was 35-38 tonnes or $1.4 bn. March has begun with marginal import; due to
jewelry strike to oppose excise duty, the month might end with gold import of $500-700 million (17-23
tonnes).“The 2015-16 average price is likely to end lower by approximately eight per cent from 2014-15. Most
imports were primarily during months when prices were lower," said Sudheesh Nambiath, lead analyst at GFMS,
Thomson Reuters. The February import was half of January's, with a steep $30-50 per ounce discount to the cost
of import.
Gold edged lower on Friday, as the dollar steadied above a five-month low, but the metal remained on track for a
weekly gain after the Federal Reserve scaled back rate increase expectations. The U.S. central bank held interest
rates steady on Wednesday and indicated it would tighten policy this year, but fresh projections offered by the
Fed showed policymakers expect two quarter-point increases by year-end, half the number forecast in
December. Expectations the Fed would raise rates steadily this year had faded since the bank's initial hike in
December, as concerns about global growth roiled financial markets.
✍Crude oil
Crude oil prices settled lower on Friday after the U.S rig count rose for the first time since December, renewing
worries of a supply glut after an output freeze proposal helped boost the market to 2016 highs and multiweek
gains.
US oil futures touched new highs for 2016 on Friday and were set to post gains for a fifth straight week on
growing optimism that major producers would strike a deal to freeze output, while a more benign interest rate
environment also supported prices. US crude was up 3 cents at $40.23 barrel, after rising to as much as $40.55 -
higher than the previous peak of $40.36 reached on Thursday. The benchmark had surged 4.5% to close at
$40.20 in the prior session. Brent crude's front-month contract was up 2 cents at $41.56 per barrel and earlier
rose to $41.71, a new high for the year. It finished up $1.21 at $41.54 a barrel on Thursday. Both contracts have
traded down at times throughout the day, suggesting resistance at around $40. "The market is trying to price in
the moves by the big producers," said Avtar Sandu, senior commodities manager at Phillip Futures in Singapore.
"Otherwise, $40 oil is actually pretty expensive given the oversupply in the market." Oil prices have surged
more than 50% from 12-year lows since the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) floated
the idea of a production freeze, boosting Brent from about $27 and US crude from around $26. US oil is heading
for a fifth week of gains, while Brent is on course for a fourth weekly increase, the longest rising streak in about
a year for both benchmarks.
Despite the retreat, oil posted multi-week gains, with Brent up for a fourth straight week and U.S. crude a fifth
week in a row. Both benchmarks rose about 2 percent this week. Global oversupply in oil had knocked crude
prices down from mid-2014 highs above $100 a barrel to 12-year lows earlier this year, bringing Brent to around
$27 and U.S. crude to about $26. Over the past two months, prices rallied to above $40 after the Organization of
6. the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) floated the idea of a production freeze at January's highs. The
combination of declining oil output, smaller crude stockpile builds and surging gasoline consumption in the
United States also helped the recovery, although some analysts said the rally had been overdone
✍Natural gas
U.S. natural gas futures ended lower on Friday as the market focuses more on the warm weather forecast for
much of the rest of March instead of the snowstorm expected to hit the Northeast this weekend on the first day of
spring.
Natural Gas futures ended flat in the domestic market on Friday as traders weighed near-term forecasts for
colder than earlier anticipated temperatures across the US Midwest, which may boost gas-fired heating demand
for the fuel, against hefty storage levels with US gas stockpiles declining by just one to 2.478 trillion cubic feet
in the week ended March 11, 2016. Total US gas storage levels are around 807 billion cubic feet above the five-
year average of 1.671 trillion cubic feet and 998 billion cubic feet above levels in the same period a year ago. At
the MCX, Natural Gas futures for March 2016 contract closed at Rs 127.3 per mmBtu, unchanged, after opening
at Rs 127.9, against the previous closing price of Rs 127.3.
✍Copper
Copper slipped from a four-month high on Friday as investors locked in gains after a rally prompted by a more
dovish U.S. rate outlook, though stronger oil prices and lower inventories cushioned the fall.
Copper futures advanced during evening trade in the domestic market on Friday amidst a pickup in physical
demand for the industrial metal in the spot market and on optimism that a recovery in the property market in
China, the world’s biggest metals consuming nation, may bolster demand. New Chinese home prices rose in 47
cities in February, up from 38 in January, signaling a recovering property market, while the Yuan strengthened
after China’s central bank raised its reference rate by the most since November. At the MCX, Copper futures for
April 2016 contract were trading at Rs. 340 per 1 kg, up by 0.41 per cent, after opening at Rs. 339, against the
previous closing price of Rs. 338.6. It touched the intra-day high of Rs. 343.85. (At 16:53 PM).
Copper also drew support from declining physical stocks in London Metal Exchange warehouses. Copper in the
warehouses stood at 158,275 tonnes, down about 30 percent since late November, though much of the inventory
has just moved to warehouses monitored by the Shanghai Futures Exchange. The pullback in copper prices was
limited by tentative signs of recovery in China's property sector, which is China's second-biggest copper
consumer after the power industry.
✍Lead
Lead prices fell by 0.45 per cent on Friday at the domestic markets due to low demand from battery-makers and
other consuming industries at the domestic spot market as well as a weak trend at the global market. At the
MCX, Lead futures, for the March 2016 contract, is trading at Rs 120.70 per kg, down 0.45 per cent, after
opening at Rs 122, against a previous close of Rs 121.25. It touched an intra-day low of Rs 120.45 till the
trading. (At 3.33 PM today). However, losses were limited due to the decline in the lead stockpiles at the London
Metal Exchange (LME) on account of the strong demand for the commodity. LME lead stocks fell by 1925
metric tonnes to 164325 metric tonnes as on March 18, 2016.
7. ✍Zinc
Zinc futures posted modest gains in the domestic market on Friday as investors and speculators booked fresh
positions in the industrial metal amid a pickup in physical demand for zinc in the domestic spot market.
Optimism that a recovery in the property market in China, the world’s biggest metals consuming nation, may
bolster demand, also boosted sentiment. New Chinese home prices rose in 47 cities in February, up from 38 in
January, signaling a recovering property market, while the Yuan strengthened after China’s central bank raised
its reference rate by the most since November. Further, China Securities Finance Corp. stressed that it will boost
lending to brokerages for their margin trading business in measures aimed at boosting the country’s stock market
which recently fell prey to a rout and leverage more than halved from last year’s peak. At the MCX, Zinc futures
for March 2016 contract closed
at Rs 122.45 per kg, up by 0.12 per cent after opening at Rs 122.65, against the previous closing price of Rs
122.3. It touched the intra-day high of Rs 123.3.
✍ NCDEX - WEEKLY NEWS LETTERS
✍Chana
During Thursday’s trading session NCDEX Chana April opened positive and traded upside during most parts of
the session. However at the end of the day it closed almost at same level. NCDEX Chana April futures ended the
day at Rs 4372 per quintal which is 0.02% up against the previous day. In this fiscal year till 1st March country
has imported 55.5 lakh tonnes of pulses where as last year during entire year center had imported 45.8 lakh
tonnes. Pulses production is estimated at 17.33 million tonnes in 2015-16 crop year (July-June) while demand is
pegged at 23.66 million tonnes. The Government has taken a decision to create a buffer stock of 1.5 lakh tonnes
of pulses through both domestic procurement and imports to improve domestic availability and stabilize
prices.According to AAFC report, the production of chana and masoor dal is going to increase this
year.Continuing its rising streak for the fourth straight day, chana gained another 0.23 per cent to Rs 4,370 per
quintal in futures trading today as participants widened their bets, triggered by good demand in the spot
market.Furthermore, restricted supplies from producing regions fuelled the uptrend. Likewise, the commodity
for delivery in May contracts traded higher by a similar margin to Rs 4,439 per quintal in 10,610 lots.Analysts
said besides strong demand in the spot market, restricted supplies from producing belts led an upward trend in
chana prices at futures trade
✍Jeera
During Thursday’s trading session, jeera futures took a smart recovery from its previous losses on short
covering. Hence, jeera future prices traded and settled the day at Rs. 14635 per quintal with 1.5% gains.Some
fresh export enquiries reported in the spot market ahead of festive season demand.On spot market front, prices at
Unjha market in Mehsana district hovered in the range of Rs.13100-13700 per quintal. On arrivals front, the total
arrivals remained unchanged at Unjha market were around 40000 bags.Stock positions at NCDEX accredited
warehouses are 266 tonnes and stocks under process are 57 MT as on 16 Mar 2016.
8. ✍Cardamom
Cardamom futures traded on mixed note as most active contract traded higher while next month contracts traded
lower during previous trade. April futures opened lower, however traded on higher note extending its gains
following good buying from exporters and upcountry buyers. Apr future made a high of Rs.728.90/kg, however,
it could not sustain as it closed at Rs.723.40 per kg, up by 0.26% from its previous close. Cardamom arrivals
were at 149621.4 kgs, up by 59801.2 kgs, max prices they traded were at Rs.913/kg, and average prices were
Rs.520.31. Peak arrival season is almost over; however, bumper crop during previous season has resulted in
relatively higher arrivals. Spices export during February was at Rs.1370.60 cr, up by 14% y/y. As on 16th Mar
2016, MCX warehouses have 36.30 MT stocks eligible for delivery.Rising for the second straight day,
cardamom prices advanced by 2.33 per cent to Rs 731.50 per kg in futures trade today as traders indulged in
enlarging their positions, tracking a firm trend at spot market on strong demand.Moreover, restricted supplies in
the physical markets from major producing belts supported the uptrend in cardamom prices.At the Multi
Commodity Exchange, cardamom for delivery in April increased by Rs 16.70, or 2.33 per cent, to Rs 731.50 per
kg, in a business turnover of 435 lots.Similarly, cardamom for delivery in May edged up by Rs 9.80, or 1.35 per
cent, to Rs 735 per kg in 25 lots.
✍Coriander
Coriander futures witnessed a recovery during Thursday’s trading hours on account of short covering from its
previous losses. Hence, Coriander future prices settled the day on a thin range at Rs. 6662 per quintal up by
0.4%.However, spot market remained steady to down during the day, amid increase in arrivals. At Kota market,
Coriander Eagle variety traded at Rs. 6800 per quintal. While Badami variety traded at Rs. 6300 per quintal. The
total arrivals at Kota market reported around 764 tonnes, higher by 149 tonnes against previous day.
Coriander prices are expected to trade on a positive note on continued short covering initially during the day.
However, prices are expected to remain volatile later in the day amid prevailing mixed sentiments in the spot
markets. Upsurge in the fresh crop arrivals may keep the prices under pressure. On the other hand, domestic
demand from local masala manufactures as well export demand is likely to pick up ahead of festive season.
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