KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian palm oil futures reversed earlier gains on Friday, as a firmer ringgit and weak demand from key markets weighed on prices, while it logged a weekly loss.
The benchmark palm oil contract for July delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange fell 0.79% to 3,880 ringgit ($911.23) a metric ton at the close.
The contract fell 4.36% this week.
A stronger ringgit and absence of enthusiastic buying amidst expectations of an increase in Malaysian April palm oil inventories limited the gains, said Anilkumar Bagani, commodity research head at Mumbai-based brokerage Sunvin Group.
Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade were down 0.72%. The Dalian Commodity Exchange is closed from May 1 to May 5 for the Labour Day holidays.
Palm oil tracks price movements of rival edible oils as it competes for a share of the global vegetable oils market.
Palm closes lowest in 7 months as higher production, stock levels weigh
Oil prices fell as traders squared positions ahead of an OPEC+ meeting and amid some scepticism about a potential de-escalation of the trade dispute between China and the United States.
Weaker crude oil futures make palm a less attractive option for biodiesel feedstock.
The ringgit, palm’s currency of trade, strengthened 1.25% against the U.S. dollar in Friday trading as of 1055 GMT, making the commodity more expensive for buyers holding foreign currencies.
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