Menthaoil on MCX settled up 0.39% at 948.2 amid rise in demand in the domestic spot market. Further, tight stocks position on restricted supplies from producing regions, too supported mentha oil prices. However, some gains were capped on the speculation that the area under cultivation can increase this year resulting good production. A better price recovery in mentha oil is expected to boost production of the crop by 12% this year. A large number of small and marginal farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and other places sowed mentha in January. India exported 21,150 metric tonnes of mentha and allied products, valued at Rs 2,577.59 crore in FY16, according to the Spices Board of India. This was 15.87% in value terms of the total spices exported.

Aluminium on MCX settled down -0.84% at 124.6 on profit booking tracking LME prices fell 0.5 percent amid rise in Shanghai stocks after prices seen supported after news that Xinjiang Jiarun Resources shut down 200,000 mt of disqualified aluminium capacity. Prices seen supported in the week as supporting prices was the inventory draws from London Metal Exchange warehouses, but a rise in Shanghai stocks on Friday limited this bullish sentiment. Still, overall LME holdings are sitting at just 1.7 million tons. Inventories in Shanghai, meanwhile, are at their highest in about a year. Meanwhile, China’s total March aluminium production rose to 2.707 million tons from 2.534 million in February.

Zinc on MCX settled down -1.91% at 166.65 tracking LME prices closed 1.8 percent lower at $2,584 as recent price gains have spurred miners around the world to increase output. World Bureau of Metal Statistics (WBMS) data show global zinc market was in 177,000 tonnes of deficit during January and February 2017, compared to 258,000 tonnes of deficit in 2016. Global refined zinc output added 6.0% year-on-year in the first two months of the year. Consumption was up 7%, with 87,000 tonnes from Japan, up 16% year-on-year. Global refined zinc demand increased 143,000 tonnes on a yearly basis during January-February. China’s apparent zinc consumption was 967,000 tonnes, representing 44% of global total.

Copper on MCX settled down -0.32% at 363 as worries over political instability and global demand prompted investors to cut bets on higher prices. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange closed flat at $5,622.50 a tonne, leaving it down 1.2 percent in the week. Investors have overestimated global growth and the impact of supply disruptions at major copper mines. The global refined copper market had a 51,000 tonne surplus in January, up from a 44,000 tonne surplus in January last year, the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) said. But the strike at the Escondida mine in February-March meant "next month's report should reflect a tighter market".

Naturalgas on MCX settled down -1.08% at 201.2 as momentum-based traders pile on to a recent losing skid tied to a weak time of year for demand. A late-winter rally has been followed up by a steady retreat throughout April, a time of year when temperate weather often lowers demand for the heating fuel. Further downside price action is also suggested by the recent failure against the upward sloping trendline which had defined price action since the late February low was established. The U. S. Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report that natural gas storage in the U. S. rose by 54 billion cubic feet in the week ended April 14, compared to forecasts for a build of 48 billion.

Crudeoil on MCX settled down -2.82% at 3208 on renewed concerns that increasing U. S. production and high inventories will thwart OPEC's attempts to reduce the global crude glut. Prices fell as doubts emerged over the effect of the OPEC/non-OPEC production cut by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) during the first half of the year. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, key members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, favour extending their production-limiting deal with non-member producers into the second half of the year. Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak, however, declined to say whether the top oil producer would adhere to an extension before a joint meeting on May 25, saying global stocks were declining.

Silver on MCX settled down -0.52% at 41289 as investors kept an eye on the upcoming French presidential vote that is seen as too close to call. Investors opted for caution ahead of the French presidential election, as opinion polls indicated centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron holds a slender lead over far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. According to Opinion-Orpi’s daily poll of voting intentions, centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron would garner 23% of the vote while Marine Le pen would garner 22%. Meanwhile, investors mulled over comments from U. S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, after he said Thursday, the Trump administration is ‘close’ to bringing forward tax reform.

Gold on MCX settled up 0.42% at 29418 as investors awaited the first-round of voting in the presidential French election at the weekend and possible announcements about tax changes in the United States. There was potential for safe-haven buying of gold after France said security forces were fully mobilized for the weekend vote after an Islamist militant killed a policeman Thursday night. Safe-haven demand re-emerged after a French policeman was shot dead and two others were wounded in central Paris on Thursday night in an attack claimed by the Islamic State militant group. Investors were also watching events in Washington.

Cotton on MCX settled down by -0.48% at 20720 on higher arrivals and sufficient stock levels in the country. India's 2016-17 cotton imports are set to jump more than a third from a year ago to a record 30 lakh bales on stronger rupees. On export front, country has so far contracted about 45 lakh bales in the current crop year, and total exports in the season could be around 5 million bales, down 30% from a year ago. Total cotton arrivals across the country till Apr 7 stood at 27.87 million bales recording a rise of 5% over last year's level of 26.47 million bales, according to the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) data. Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) estimated 2016-17 cotton crop at 35.1 million bales up from 33.8 million bales a year ago.

Cardamom on MCX settled up by 0.59% at 1270.6 on short covering tracking firmness in spot demand after prices dropped amid reports of higher supplies of imported variety. However prices were further unlikely to improve in the coming week due to accumulation of imported stocks. Arrivals at the auction centres continued to shrink as the season has come to an end and number auctions have been cut in the absence of sufficient quantity. India exported 3,000 ton cardamom during Apr-Dec down from 3,825 on a year ago, data from Spices Board showed. Individual auction average slipped and it was vacillating between Rs. 1,047 and Rs. 1,193 a Kg. Total arrivals during the season from August 01 up to April 8, 2017 were at 15,247 tonnes and sales stood at 14,466 tonnes.

Maize on NCDEX settled flat tracking weakness in overseas prices amid rising estimates on South America's corn output. The USDA left its forecast of U.S. 2016-17 corn exports unchanged at 2.225 billion bushels. Farmers may harvest at an estimated 14.32-million tonnes of maize in 2017‚ which represents the third-biggest maize crop on record. Favourable weather conditions have enabled producers to increase the area planted to summer crops‚ with maize output now expected to be 84% higher in 2017 than in 2016. In its second estimate for the year on Tuesday‚ the Crop Estimates Committee said it had revised the maize output estimate by 2.91% from the first estimate.

Jeera on NCDEX settled down by -1.26% at 19250 on profit booking after prices gained due to expectation of good demand for exports coupled with lower than expected supplies. The arrivals have been lower during the second half of current month compared to last month same period while the demand have increased. Sources estimate India’s jeera crop output will be around 2.5 lakh tonnes, lower than the 3.75 to 5 lakh-tonne estimates put out by experts. Even at the lower crop estimate, jeera exports are projected to range between 100,000-150,000 tonnes, for the year. Exports will happen in spite of higher prices because there is no supplier of jeera available globally. Syria has a significant share at 30,000-40,000 tonnes, while Turkey is very small at 10,000 tonnes.

Turmeric on NCDEX settled down by -0.86% at 6196 tracking lower prices in spot market due to higher supplies and steady demand. Turmeric farmers and traders have been hit hard by poor sales during peak season. Many traders and farmers expected good sales of turmeric during the peak period, which started a month ago. But, this year, for the first time in recent history, both farmers and traders are in agony due to poor production and tepid demand from North India. However, turmeric arrivals in the country is on higher side during second half of March at 79,534 tonnes compared to 63,965 tonnes during last month same period, as per the data.

Mustard Seed on NCDEX settled up by 0.65% at 3896 tracking firmness in spot demand and overseas prices after prices remained under pressure on oversullply woes. Good weather and increase in minimum support prices (MSP), which attracted farmers to plant higher mustard, resulted into record crop of over 71.09 lakh tonnes, says industry body Solvent Extractors Association. Rapeseed-Mustard is the main oilseed crop for the Rabi season which is planted on more than 80% area covered under oilseeds. Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat are the highest sown states of mustard seed accounting for more than 70% of total mustard acreage in the country.

Crude palm Oil on MCX settled up by 0.66% at 517.1 tracking firmness in spot demand and overseas prices on rising exports and tracking stronger-performing soyoil in US and China. Palm oil shipments from Malaysia rose 20-25 percent between April 1-10 from the corresponding period last month, according to cargo surveyor data on Monday However, the data from the MPOB showed end-stocks for March rose 6.5% from February to 1.55 mt. Output surged 16.3% to 1.46 mt, the first monthly gain since September and the strongest month-on-month rise in over a year. There is expectation of higher stock levels of edible oil in the country as oilseed crushing is going on in full swing. Moreover, government lowered the base import price of CPO by $6 to $747 per tonnes for 1st half of April.

Ref.Soyaoil on NCDEX settled up by 0.48% at 624.5 on buying at lower level amid hopes of higher demand for soymeal in export marker. Export demand for Indian soymeal may rise as meal is disparity of $35 per tons as compared to Argentine soymeal. Large supply estimate of South America with good Indian oilseeds crop led the domestic soyoil price under pressure. According to trader, inventories with traders and stockiest is sufficient and they have opted to buy as per requirements to cater retail demand. Meanwhile, government lowered the base import price of crude soyoil by $21 to $784 per tonnes for first half of April which may pressurize edible oil. There is expectations of bumper oilseeds output and higher availability of edible oil in the country.

Soyabean on NCDEX settled up by 1.47% at 2961 on account of lower arrivals in the mandis due to hoarding by farmers and demand hopes also supporting prices. Though, the soybean market is struggling under the pressure of a global supply glut. Soybean arrivals in local mandis during March fell by 23% compared to previous month as farmers were reluctant to sell crops at lower prices, said the Soybean Processors Association of India. Arrivals during March fell to 500,000 tons as compared to 650,000 tons in February. Soybean crushing has also dropped to 650,000 tons as compared to 700,000 tons in the same period a month ago, SOPA said in its Estimated Supply & Demand of Soybean and Soybean Meal till March press release.

Mentha oil on MCX settled up by 0.58% at 983.8 amid pick-up in demand in the domestic spot market. Further, tight stocks due to fall in arrivals from Chandausi too led to the rise in mentha oil prices. However upside seen limited on speculation that the area under cultivation can increase this year resulting good production. Total production of mentha oil during the current season is 32,000-34,000 tonnes against preliminary estimates of around 40,000 tonnes. Unfavourable weather conditions during harvesting period led to the drop in production. On the demand side, the seasonal demand emerges during winter season, especially from the pharma sector. Sources mentioned that nearly 14500 MT of mint products were exported in six months of the current financial year.

Aluminium on MCX settled down -1.13% at 122.35 tracking LME prices amid impatience over the lack of details around Trump's plans for infrastructure Aluminium stocks held in LME-registered warehouses fell to their lowest since late 2008, exchange data showed. China's aluminium makers are expected to step up exports in coming months as a healthier global manufacturing climate and declining world stockpiles boost demand, traders and analysts said. Higher exports of semi-manufactured aluminium could dampen London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices, which have surged nearly 14 percent this year, as well as stoke global trade tensions.

Nickel on MCX settled down -1.52% at 628.40 tracking weakness in LME nickel ended the day down 1.1 percent at $9,735 a tonne as a tentative recovery in broader financial markets lost steam, with geopolitical tensions and fading hopes of a boost to U.S. demand putting pressure on prices. Meanwhile sentiments still remain robust after the news update that the two biggest nickel miners in the Philippines, Nickel Asia Corp and Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc, said prices for the metal would be robust this year due to growing demand from China. The Philippines is the world's top supplier of nickel ore, used to help make stainless steel, with China its No.1 market.