KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian palm oil futures firmed on Friday, but they are on course for a near 6% weekly loss on anticipation of a sharp decline in August exports and cheaper Dalian oils.

The benchmark palm oil contract for November delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange gained 18 ringgit, or 0.42%, to 4,256 ringgit ($1,004.25), after falling to a 10-day low in the previous session.

Palm oil may test support at 4,261 ringgit

For the week, it is set to fall 5.7%.

FUNDAMENTALS

• Investors are awaiting cargo surveyors to release Aug. 1-20 export data scheduled later in the day. Market rumours have pegged shipments during that period to decline around 10%, traders said.

  • Dalian's most-active soyoil contract fell 1%, while its palm oil contract lost 1.2%. Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade were up 0.4%.

• Palm oil is affected by price movements in related oils as they compete for a share in the global vegetable oils market.

• Palm oil may break a support at 4,221 ringgit per tonne and fall to 4,125 ringgit, Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao said.