Rupee down

The rupee was down in early morning trades on Wednesday tracking negative local shares and weak Asian currencies, while oil importers' dollar demand is also likely to weigh.

At 9:17 a.m., the partially convertible rupee was at 44.7450/7475 per dollar, weaker than Tuesday's close of 44.67/68.

• * Traders expect the rupee to trade in a range of 44.60-44.80 intraday.
•  India's main stock index was down 0.4 percent in early trades amid weak Asian markets.
•  Most Asian currencies were weak against the dollar.
•  The index of the dollar against six major currencies was up 0.18 percent at 73.655 points against 73.651  when the domestic market closed on Tuesday.
•  The euro was trading at $1.4658, compared with $1.4660 at the end of local trade on Tuesday

Maruti''s Manesar plant closed for 5th day...

New Delhi, June 8 (PTI) The country''s largest car-maker Maruti Suzuki India today said production at its Manesar facility continues to be completely stopped as the workers'' strike at the plant entered its fifth day.

"Strike is continuing... The production is fully stopped."

Around 2,000 workers at the plant have been on strike since Saturday, resulting in a production loss of about 3,000 units till yesterday and the value of the loss is estimated to be around Rs 150 crore. The company had yesterday said its sales will be affected if the strike at the Manesar plant prolongs.

The Manesar plant rolls out about 1,200 units every day in two shifts. The factory produces hatchbacks Swift and A-Star and sedans DZiRE and SX4. The company''s shares were trading at Rs 1,229.95 apiece in the morning on the Bombay Stock Exchange, down 0.87 per cent.

Nifty weak

Equity benchmarks started the trade on a negative note following weak global cues. Indices continued to see volatility for third consecutive session. The Nifty has been in a range of 5500-5600 since last week

M&M, Maruti Suzuki, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, SBI, PNB, Reliance Industries, ONGC, Ranbaxy Labs, TCS, Jaiprakash Associates, HUL and Infosys were dragging the markets down in early trade.

However, the buying in Reliance Communications, Ambuja Cements, Reliance Power and ITC has trimmed the losses to some extent. At 9:21 hours IST, the 30-share BSE Sensex was trading at 18,437, down 59 points and the 50-share NSE Nifty fell 21 points to 5,535.

Commodity Market

Beginning in the fall after the lead has been shopping. While in spot demand decreases turmeric futures declined by nearly 1.5 per cent. Bumper crop of wheat has come down from the minimum support price quotes. Also today, business is on the decline in soybean.

Today, Base Metals pack huge ups - and downs about 1 percent lead among businesses is up. At first view, lead to rise in London Metal Exchange also has accelerated the impact of the domestic market. Up nearly 1 percent on LME lead is around 2525 dollars per ton. In fact, demand in China is expected to grow. Last month, China's performance in most battery plants is at a standstill. It is believed to be started again as soon as these lead battery plants will increase demand. So despite the surge in LME stocks of lead to have gone up.

While nearly half per cent decline in cumin. The inward moving markets cumin prices are constantly falling down. Currently about 10,000 daily incoming getting the sack cumin. During the past month and nearly 10 percent decline in the price of cumin has. In the spot market has come down from Rs 13,000 cumin. Cumin this year yields declined even though its expressions are falling.

Experts advise investors to

Pepper (June Futures): Buy - 29 560, Steugpalugss - 29 090 and the target - 30 490

Mustard (June Futures): Buy - 2900, Steugpalugss - 2845 and target - 3245

Gold (August Futures): Buy - 22 730, Steugpalugss - 22 700 and the target - 22 875
Crude Oil (July Futures): Sell - 4425, Steugpalugss - 4437 and target - 4350

Nifty above 5550

Indian equity benchmarks were trading with moderate gains amid volatility, led by heavyweights Reliance Industries, Infosys and TCS, which gained 1-1.7%. The 50-share NSE Nifty was hovering at around 5550 level.
The index was trading at 5,555, up 23 points and the 30-share BSE Sensex gained 75 points at 18,496. Market breadth too turned in favour of advances - about 764 shares advanced as against 506 shares declined on National Stock Exchange.