Crude palm oil prices rose by Rs 4.40 to Rs 524 per 10 kg in futures trade today as speculators indulged in creating fresh positions on expectations of a rise in demand in the spot market for the marriage season. A firming trend in overseas markets also influenced crude palm oil prices in the futures market. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude palm oil for January delivery rose by Rs 4.40, or 0.85%, to Rs 524 per 10 kg in 122 lots. The December contract gained Rs 4.30, or 0.83%, to Rs 520.30 per 10 kg in 12 lots. Analysts said fresh buying by speculators on hopes of a pick-up in demand in the spot market and a firming trend overseas mainly led to the rise in crude palm oil prices in the futures market. Meanwhile, in Malaysia, crude palm oil advanced by 1.1% to two-week high of 3,131 ringgit ($993) per metric tonne on the Malaysia Derivatives Exchange on concerns that rains in the second-largest grower after Indonesia may affect production and harvesting.

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