New Delhi [India], Apr.6 : Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel, along with the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), will announce their first bi-monthly monetary policy of the current financial year today.

In its last policy review of the previous fiscal in February, the RBI kept its key policy rate or the repo rate unchanged at 6.25 percent for the second time in a row with marginal standing facility rate, reverse repo rate and the bank rate unchanged.

In October, Urjit Patel's first policy review as the RBI Governor, which was also the maiden review of the MPC, the repo rate was reduced by 0.25 percent to 6.25 percent.

Since then, the repo rate has been retained at 6.25 percent. However, since January 2015 the RBI has cut repo by 1.75 percent.

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Apr. 6 : Madhabi Puri Buch took charge as Whole Time Member of Securities and Exchange Board of India ( SEBI) in Mumbai on Wednesday for a tenure of three years or until further orders.

Buch will handle the Market Regulation Department, Market Intermediaries Regulation and Supervision Department, Integrated Surveillance Department, Department of Economic and Policy Analysis, Office of Investor Assistance and Education, National Institute of Securities Markets and Information Technology Department.

Prior to joining, Buch served as the Consultant to the New Development Bank in Shanghai and as the Head of the Singapore office of the Private Equity Firm, Greater Pacific Capital.

Cotton on MCX settled down -1.13% at 20960 on profit booking after prices gained on reports of higher local consumption and export demand amid lower output in southern Indian region. Domestic consumption of the fibre is expected to climb to 29.5 million bales compared to 29 million bales in the previous year, Cotton Association of India (CAI) said. China is expected to increase import of premium quality fibre from India for blending as quality of auctioned cotton is poor. China is expected to increase import of premium quality fibre from India for blending as quality of auctioned cotton is poor.

Rmseed on NCDEX settled up 0.73% at 3982 on speculation of crop damages in domestic market. India is expected to produce around 6.5-7 million tonnes (mt) of rape mustard seeds in 2016-17 as compared to 5.8 mt produced in 2015-16 due to higher acreage and improving productivity. The carry-forward stock from the previous season was around 0.15 mt. The Ministry of Agriculture expects 8.5 mt of mustard seeds to be produced in the current rabi season against 6.8 mt a year ago, as per its 4th advanced estimates. Higher price levels seen before sowing, favourable weather and a hike of over 10.4 per cent in MSP to Rs. 3,700/Q (including Rs. 100 bonus) explain the increase in acreage by over 9 per cent to 7.05 million hectares.

Turmeric prices ended with gains on rising exports demand at the spot market. Turmeric output is seen higher at 7 million bags thanks to higher sowing and favorable weather conditions. Prevailing high prices encouraged farmers to plant more turmeric this year. Expectations of increasing production in coming harvesting season and lowering export demand in recent months are putting pressure on turmeric prices at higher levels. Turmeric acreage in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh was higher this year as compared last year. The turmeric arrivals in the country is on higher side during second half of March to 79,534 tonnes compared to 63,965 tonnes during last month same period, as per the data.

Maize on NCDEX settled up 1.83% at 1443 tracking firmness in spot demand and overseas prices. Corn plantings were reduced by 4 percent to 90 million acres, slightly below market expectations. Corn stocks as of March 1 were a record 8.616 billion bushels, topping the 8.248 billion bushels reported in March 1987. The USDA said users burned through a record 3.770 billion bushels of corn from Dec. 1 to March 1. The USDA data showed weekly U.S. corn export sales of 716,000 tonnes for shipment during the current marketing season, below estimates for 900,000 to 1.2 million tonnes. Farmers may harvest at an estimated 14.32-million tonnes of maize in 2017‚ which represents the third-biggest maize crop on record.

Jeera prices gained backed by rising domestic and export demand at the spot market. Moreover, restricted supplies in the domestic spot market due to reports of lower production estimates in Gujarat too supported the uptrend. A recent assessment by the Federation of Indian Spices Stakeholders in Udaipur, Rajasthan, has forecast India’s cumin seed production at 5.83 million bags of 40 kg each (233,280 tonnes) this year against 4.20 million bags of 40 kg each (168,320 tonnes) last year. The latest spell of rainfall last week is estimated to have spoiled 30 per cent of the standing crop. Production estimates for 2016-17 are lower due to a decline in the jeera acreage in Gujarat.

Rmseed on NCDEX settled up 0.73% at 3982 on speculation of crop damages in domestic market. India is expected to produce around 6.5-7 million tonnes (mt) of rape mustard seeds in 2016-17 as compared to 5.8 mt produced in 2015-16 due to higher acreage and improving productivity. The carry-forward stock from the previous season was around 0.15 mt. The Ministry of Agriculture expects 8.5 mt of mustard seeds to be produced in the current rabi season against 6.8 mt a year ago, as per its 4th advanced estimates. Higher price levels seen before sowing, favourable weather and a hike of over 10.4 per cent in MSP to Rs. 3,700/Q (including Rs. 100 bonus) explain the increase in acreage by over 9 per cent to 7.05 million hectares.

CPO on MCX settled up 0.43% at 519.7 on increasing demand and speculation of lower supply from top producers. Palm oil refiners in Malaysia are boosting purchases of Indonesian crude palm oil to meet festive demand as there is tight local supply. Prices of palm oil will be up on increasing supply worries after the Malaysian Metrological Department hinted on returning of el-nino. Weather outlook report released by Malaysia Meteorological Department showed increasing odds for El-Nino toward second half of this year, with a 50-55% chance of it developing from about July-Dec. Further, prices will also be up after Malaysia palm oil exports during Mar 1-31 rose by around 7% compared to a month earlier on strong demand from European Union and India & Subcontinents.

Ref.Soya oil on NCDEX settled down -0.34% at 626.55 amid robust supply in local market along with lower tariff rates. International Grains Council in its report hiked soybean output forecast for 2016-17 by 5 million tons to 341 million tons and for 2017-18 output seen at 345 million tons. Moreover, according to market participants and traders soyoil port stock at various ports of the country totalled at 121,000 ton in the week ended on March 19 as compared to 94,000 tons a week ago, which is sufficient to meet the demand. For soyoil Indian importers, prices of oil in India are Rs 577 per 10 kilogram as compared to that cost from Argentina is Rs 570.61 per 10 kilogram.

Soyabean prices gained tracking firmness in spot demand on limited supply in local mandis. Prices also seen supported supported by lower arrivals as farmers are reluctant to sell crop below Rs 2,800 per quintal in the local mandis. The supplies have been decreased drastically this week compared to previous week. As per data, arrivals of soybean during 27-31 Mar were about 24,979 tonnes Vs 80,092 tonnes during previous week. The mills have procured large volumes of soybean earlier in the season lower levels which helps in more competitive prices of meals for record exports. The market may get support at lower levels from news of Govt to allow export of edible oils including soya oil.

Menthaoil prices dropped on fresh selling after the speculation that sowing activity had been increased in key production area of UP. The weather looked good and everything seemed fine as of now as farmers are still under stress, as they have already suffered a lot because of demonetization. As cash is the primary mode of transaction in agriculture sector which contributes 15% to India’s total output. Earlier it was estimated that total area under Mentha planting will drop by 20% to 1.75 lakh ha for this season resulting into a proportionate fall in Mentha oil production this year.

Aluminium on MCX settled down -0.36% at 125.85 on profit booking after prices gained on expectations of a tighter market , but rising prices are likely to mean producers restart capacity and fill any gap between supply and demand. China early last month ordered steel and aluminium producers in 28 cities to slash output during the winter months in a bid to curb noxious smog. Focus on falling stocks of aluminium in LME approved warehouses, which at nearly 1.9 million tonnes are down nearly 20 percent since mid-January. Cancelled warrants -- metal earmarked for delivery -- at 46 percent are also a concern for those wanting to trade on the LME. LME stocks fall 14,250 tonnes to fresh low since December 2008.

Nickel on MCX settled up 2% at 652.20 dragged up by gains in the steel sector after a cyclone in Australia damaged transport routes for coking coal. Indonesian Mining Ministry official said the ministry has issued export recommendation to allow Antam to export 2.7 million tonnes of nickel ore. There was news that 4 Indonesian nickel ore mining firms are applying for ore export quotas, and Antam got the initial clearance for Indonesian nickel ore exports. But, the export quota of 2.70 million WMT is much below its application amount of 6 million WMT, raising market doubts over 2017 nickel ore shipments from Indonesia, world’s number one nickel ore supplier before its 2014 export ore ban. The U.S.

Zinc on MCX settled up 1.8% at 178.55 tracking gains from LME Zinc prices which have bounced after touching a three-week low closed up 1 per cent at $US2,736, recovering from a low of $US2,702, the weakest since March 14, and after falling 2.2 per cent on Monday. London Metal Exchange zinc has risen 11 percent so far this year to $2,861 a tonne, having soared 60 pct last year, after prices touched seven year lows last January. Yesterday prices also seen support after the a cyclone in Australia damaged transport routes for coking coal, fuelling a jump in prices.

Copper on MCX settled up 0.53% at 376.65 recovered from the Monday’s fall tracking gains from LME copper which ended 0.4 per cent higher at $US5,778, after slipping to its lowest since March 27 at $US5,730. On Monday, it broke below the 100-day moving average at $5785, and ended with a 1.5 per cent loss. As pressure seen after the world's biggest copper mine Escondida has restarted production but is still some way from a return to full capacity after a strike that ended in late March, a senior executive from mine owner BHP Billiton, said. Chinese markets were out on holiday for a second day, draining the market of liquidity and direction in yesterday session also.

Naturalgas on MCX settled up 4.21% at 212.8 rose to a two-month high Tuesday, a move likely tied to falling output and rising power-plant outages that could lead to more demand for gas-fired power. The jump is part of a monthlong rally that already has lifted gas 28% from its low of 2017. A glut that has lingered for years and often led to historically low prices finally appears to be causing output cuts and new demand to reverse the market. Also a strong spring storm with heavy showers and thunderstorms will track across the southern and east-central U.S. and then across the Northeast in the first half of the coming week, according to forecasters at NatGasWeather.com. However a strong spring storm with heavy showers and thunderstorms will track across the eastern US today.

Crudeoil on MCX settled up 1.46% at 3325 gained tracking firmness from Nymex Crude which settled above $51 mark for first time in month supported by an unplanned production outage in the North Sea and expectations of a drawdown in U.S. crude and product inventories. In the North Sea, production of crude oil from Britain's 180,000 barrel per day Buzzard field was temporarily halted while repair work is carried out at an onshore processing terminal, noting normal output should be restored in the coming day or two. Earlier in the session, WTI dipped below $50, before oil futures regained their footing. Crude oil prices was also supported after a larger than expected draw in industry estimates of U.S.

Silver on MCX settled up 0.59% at 42570 as investors turned their attention to U.S. trade data ahead of President Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Prices also seen supported as investors parsed through mixed manufacturing data and weaker-than-expected auto sales numbers. The ISM survey of manufacturing-sector activity showed growth slowing, albeit no more than expected. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said February U.S. construction spending increased 0.8% to its highest level in more than ten years, but it missed expectations of 1% rise. The main focus for markets this week centers on President Donald Trump's first meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday and Friday.

Gold on MCX settled up 0.42% at 29016 buoyed by a weaker dollar on tepid economic data from the United States and as investors turned to safe-haven assets on worries over geopolitical tensions. Supporting gold was geopolitical tension sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump who on Sunday held out the possibility of using trade as a lever to secure Chinese cooperation against North Korea. A measure of U.S. manufacturing activity retreated from a 2-1/2 year high in March amid a decline in production and an inventory drawdown. Hedge funds and money managers raised their net long position in COMEX gold by 33,179 to 99,150 lots in the week to March 28, the highest in more than three weeks.