The Hindu Business Line : Saturday, March 17, 2007

COMMODITY EXCHANGES
Short covering forces soya futures to pare gains
Soyabean futures on NCDEX, which were volatile during the day, closed higher by 0.25 per cent at Rs 1,531 per quintal. Opening flat at Rs 1,531 per quintal, it hit a high of Rs 1,547 per quintal. But profit booking pulled down prices to the ... More

WHEAT
Wheat bonus may cost Centre over Rs 1,500 cr
The wheat being supplied at Rs 4.50 per kg to below-poverty-line families will actually cost the Centre around Rs 13.50 a kg. More

CULTIVATION
Of land that once turned dreams to dust
SODIFICATION EFFECT More

AQUACULTURE
Captive haul
FISH FARMERS at work near Kochi. India has emerged as the second largest producer of farmed fish, with a 4.2 per cent output in volume and value in global aquaculture. Cyprinids such as carps comprise much of Indian aquaculture harvest, according ... More

HORTICULTURE/FRUITS & VEGETABLES
A bit sour?
LOWER YIELD: A vendor selling grapes in Thrissur, Kerala. Grapes export from the country this year is likely to be lower by 30 per cent due to early season, which has led to earlier than normal fruiting and Pink Berry disease. The yield per acre ... More

PLANTATIONS
Stress on arecanut cultivation
Proposal for establishing research institute hailed More

RUBBER
Spot rubber unchanged
Spot rubber closed unchanged on Friday. According to market circles, scattered transactions failed make any impact in the physical front. Though the international markets landed in the negative zone, the absence of selling pressure and a firm ... More

TEA
Offers limited at Guwahati, Siliguri tea sales
A limited quantity of end season teas were on offer at Guwahati and Siliguri auctions this week. The demand was good though the prices were irregular following quality. The loose tea sector of the domestic market was active; however, the major ... More

Steady trend at Kochi tea auction
Prices of most dust varieties ruled steady at the Kochi tea auction, which had 8,50,000 kg on offer. CTC varieties were steady, good medium varieties were dearer, while orthodox high grown were steady and mediums were dearer. Major blenders were ... More

JUTE
Raw jute prices decline on Bengal mills strike
Consumption during stir period down by 16 lakh bales More

TOBACCO
12.5% VAT imposed on tobacco
CST to be phased out in response to compensation package agreement More

SPICES & CONDIMENTS
Pepper futures move up marginally
Pepper futures market gained slightly on Friday on buying support. Investors said to have bought 75 tonnes NCDEX delivered and they were active. On the other hand, those processors who had sold were buying directly from the primary markets. This ... More

BONUS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rs 100 surprise bonus for wheat farmers
Duty-free import extended till December 31 More