The benchmark May crude palm oil futures on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange fell 0.41 per cent, or RM11, to RM2,649 per tonne after hitting a low of RM2,620 on the day.
"Physical availability of palm oil is limited," said one trader at a local brokerage firm in Kuala Lumpur, and supplies for prompt shipment are tight, which should push up futures.
Trades volumes were 17,107 lots of 25 tonnes each, compared to the usual 10,000 lots.
The ringgit gained almost half a per cent to 3.302 per US dollar, its highest level since Aug. 2008, as offshore investors bought in anticipation of further interest rate rises by the central bank after last week's surprise move.
A stronger ringgit makes the vegetable oil more expensive for overseas buyers.
An expectation of better exports for the first fifteen days in March helped support the market, another trader said.
Players expect exports to reach 660,000 tonnes in 1-15 March, up from 607,660 tonnes in the same period in February, the second trader said. Cargo surveyors are due to announce the exports data on Monday.
Oil was steady above US$82 (US$1.00 = RM3.34) yesterday, poised for a second consecutive weekly increase, on a weakening US dollar and as views emerged that energy demand would continue to grow in the developing world.
RUBBER
MALAYSIAN rubber market closed lower yesterday in tandem with weak rubber futures in Thailand and Indonesia, dealers said.
The local market also tracked closely the downtrend on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) amid lower oil prices, they said.
"The market was relatively quiet," one of the dealers said, adding that a strong ringgit also exerted some pressure on the rubber prices.
At 12 noon, the Malaysia Rubber Board official physical price for tyre-grade SMR 20 ended 05 sen lower at 1,054.0 sen per kg while latex-in-bulk fell 1.0 sen to 745.5 sen per kg.
The unofficial closing price for tyre-grade SMR 20 declined 2.5 sen to 1,052.5 sen per kg and latex-in-bulk dropped 1.5 sen to 744.5 sen per kg.
TIN
THE Kuala Lumpur Tin Market (KLTM) closed unchanged for the second consecutive day at US$17,480 per tonne yesterday, a dealer said.
The dealer said the market was fundamentally firm despite sharp losses on the London Metal Exchange (LME), adding that there was no seller in the market as they are expecting the price to increase further.
The tin price on the LME, which normally influences global prices, fell by US$350 to settle at US$17,400 per tonne.
On the local front, yesterday turnover was flat at 50 tonnes.
At the opening, buyers made bids for 50 tonnes, while sellers offered 55 tonnes. The price differential between the KLTM and the LME widened to US$435 per tonne. - Agencies
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