Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Prices slip as demand worries grow


Crude oil prices fell on Wednesday after hitting three-week peaks as global demand worries trumped supply concerns linked to simmering tensions in the crude-rich Middle East. After reaching almost three-week highs, at $93.66, the New York WTI contract tumbled into negative territory in late trade in a technical correction heightened by demand fears.

Rubber market also seems to be witnessing a correction after rallying higher in the recent weeks. However, fundamentals remain supportive, as stimulus measures are likely to raise demand.

RSS4 grade rubber in India closed with a negative note around `.190 a kg and the price of RSS3 grade closed at `.173.95 per kg at Bangkok. In the domestic futures market, the October series closed at `.191.66, November at `.186.40, December at `.185.04 and January 2013 at `.186.58 a kg on the National Multi Commodity Exchange. On the Tokyo Commodity Exchange, October futures series currently trading in negative at ¥260.8 per kg and March 2013 at ¥267.9 per kg, on 11th October.

The three major rubber producing countries had agreed in August to cut down rubber trees and trim exports by 300,000 tonnes, in an attempt to curb declining global rubber prices, which came into effect on 1st October 2012. The government will bear the holding cost for the rubber industry, if exporters need to stop selling, in a move to support the price.

Malaysian Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said that the tripartite agreement between Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia would cut off 300,000 tonnes in proportion with the rubber we produced. Price mechanism would kick in should the tyre-grade SMR20 fall below US$2.70 per kg.

Read lot more in Rubber4U – 15th October 2012 issue

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