No pressure from US on Pak over gas pipeline project with Iran: Official

Islamabad, Mar.27 (ANI): Pakistan has rejected reports regarding there being pressure from the United States on it to back out from the gas pipeline project with Iran.

Pakistan Petroleum Ministry’s Secretary Kamran Lashari said Islamabad and Tehran are close to signing the letter of sovereign guarantee following which none of the two countries would be able to withdraw its hand from the project.

Lashari said Pakistan is also in negotiations with China for technical support needed for laying the inter-country gas pipeline.

According to sources, Beijing has shown interest in the project and wants the pipeline to be extended to China from Pakistan.

China has also reportedly agreed to invest 2.5 billion dollars on the project initially.

A Chinese delegation is likely to visit Islamabad in April to ascertain the viability of the pipeline, The Dawn quoted the sources, as saying.

According to the gas sales purchase agreement signed between Pakistan and Iran, Tehran would be providing 750 million cubic feet of gas per day to Islamabad for the next 25 years. (ANI)

RUBBER-Tokyo futures flat, capped as technicals wane

TOKYO, April 17 (Reuters) – Tokyo rubber futures were barely changed on Friday as currency and oil prices traded in tight ranges, while the upside was limited due to waning technical support.

* The key Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for September delivery was down 0.1 yen at 175.7 yen per kg. The key contract hit a five-month high of 179.7 yen on Monday, mainly bolstered by bullish technical drivers.

* After failing to test the key 180 yen level, the benchmark contract touched a one-week low of 170.1 yen earlier in the week.

* “Funds have stopped buying after the market failed to break above a key technical level, and unless oil prices rise sharply or the yen weakens significantly, it will be difficult for the market to test the 180 yen mark,” said a senior trader at a Japanese brokerage.

* The nearby contact looks set to be weighed down ahead of its expiry later in the month as the volume of dealers selling far exceeds speculator purchases, the senior trader said.

* He said dealers are selling RSS3 to buy SIR20 to take advantage of the price differences, prompting them to hedge by selling longer-dated futures contracts. Such moves have put a cap on the prices of these contracts, he said.

* Oil inched lower below $50 a barrel on Friday, paring Thursday’s 1.5 percent gain that came amid signs of an economic improvement in the United States. Oil prices were down 13 cents at $49.85. [O/R]

* The yen fell 0.2 percent against the dollar. A weaker yen inflates yen-based futures prices, helping to limit falls in rubber prices. [USD/]

* Japan’s Nikkei stock average rose 2.22 percent. [.T]

* Physical rubber prices were mostly steady.

PRICES OF ASIAN PHYSICAL RUBBER COMPARED WITH THURSDAY

Grade Price Change

Thai RSS3 (May) $1.70/kg unchanged

Thai RSS3 (Jun) $1.70/kg unchanged

Thai STR20 (May) $1.66/kg +$0.01

Thai STR20 (Jun) $1.66/kg +$0.01

Malaysia SMR20 (May) $1.63/kg unchanged

Malaysia SMR20 (Jun) $1.63/kg unchanged

Indonesia SIR20 (May) $0.70/lb unchanged

Indonesia SIR20 (Jun) $0.70/lb unchanged

Thai USS3 53.5 baht/kg unchanged

Thai 60-percent latex (drums, May) $1,320/tonne unchanged

Thai 60-percent latex (bulk, May) $1,200/tonne unchanged

** NOTE – The prices quoted above are offer prices collected from traders in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. They are not official prices quoted by state-run rubber agencies in those countries. (Reporting by Chikako Mogi; Editing by Joseph Radford)

USD Technical Forex Analysis for Forex Traders

The USD continued to correct higher trough today’s New York trade reaching the best levels of the day against the majors shortly after the London fix; despite the rise in the Greenback the majors held important S/R levels during the day and remains in two-way action into the close. Technical trade was the rule for the most part as the lack of economic news kept traders focused on near-time price levels with stops helping to drive most of the intraday action.

GBP never traded back to the earlier high seen in late Europe this morning of 1.4961 but retreated finding layers of stops for a low print at 1.4668 before recovering more than a full handle and settling above the 1.4700 handle. Traders note that cross-spreaders for Yen liquidating Yen crosses as well as weakness in EURO helping to drive the rate lower but Cable still held technical support at the 1.4720 area. EURO also took a dive dropping from the 1.3550 area in early trade for a low print at 1.3356 once again holding tech support ahead of the 1.3330 area; the rate also seeing liquidation from Yen crosses.

EUURO recovered back to the 1.3400 area and is trying for a close above the 1.3400 handle suggesting that the dips are being bought. Traders note that volumes were light on the move lower and there was bid interest during the fix today. The rest of the majors all held under tech resistance after trying for highs; traders note that the tech levels seen from last week are back in play across all pairs. USD/CHF high prints at 1.1409 were under the tech level of 1.1420; the rate failing to hold the 1.1400 handle by the end of the day. USD/JPY held firm making the USD at the highest levels seen since last year but off its highs; high prints at 101.46 never challenged in New York and the rate is unable to hold the 101.00 handle into the close.

USD/CAD rallied to a high print at 1.2443 before dropping back under the 1.2400 handle; a late push back to the 1.2400 handle sees the rate holding around the 1.2405 area in light trade. All the rates either held their respective 100 day MA S/R levels or their recent Fib levels suggesting that all of today’s action was dominated by short-term traders and likely will repeat tomorrow. With a light economic calendar due tomorrow and into mid-week the USD will likely remain two-way for the next 24-48 hours. Look for the Greenback to be subdued overnight and respect current ranges.

Today’s US Dollar Trading

* USD reverses off lows to make highs in New York
* Majors respect existing S/R, stops in range drive most action
* Volumes lighter with most action ahead of the London fix

Overnight Preview

* Look for the Greenback to hold existing ranges
* Volumes likely to be light

Looking Ahead to Tuesday
All times Eastern (-5 GMT)

* 10:00am USD IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism
* 3:00pm USD Consumer Credit m/m

CISF commandos to protect top Indian diplomats in Pakistan

Ghaziabad (UP), Mar 10 (ANI): The Central Reserve Security Force Director General, N. R. Das, on Tuesday said that a special unit of trained commandos is in Pakistan to protect the Indian Embassy officials working there.

The commandos are trained in unarmed combat and VIP security drills.

“They will perform VIP security duties after assessing the situation there,” Das said on the sidelines of CISF’s 40th raising day.

Das said the role of the CISF commandos would be finalized after an assessment report is prepared.

Some of the members of the team will also perform technical support duties.

The CISF commandos had earlier protected diplomats at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, while the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) earlier guarded the Indian Embassy officials in Afghanistan. (ANI)