Steel prices hardened further by Rs 490 or 1.81 per cent to Rs 27,560 per tonne in futures trading on Wednesday on emergence of buying by traders in tandem with firm spot market cues.

Marketmen said aggressive buying along with fall in supply at spot markets, kept the steel futures prices higher for second day.

At the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange counter, steel prices for March contract delivered at Ghaziabad moved up by Rs 490 or 1.81 per cent to Rs 27,560 per metric tonne, with an open interest of 490 lots.

Current January- onth contract too improved again by Rs 200 or 0.75 per cent to Rs 26,750 per tonne, with an open interest of 86,890 lots.