Malaysian palm unchanged after three days of losses

Malaysian palm oil futures were unchanged on Tuesday after rising earlier in the day on bargain buying, but firmer currency and expectations of improving production pressured the price. The benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange closed at 3,785 ringgit ($846.76) a tonne on Tuesday after rising 1.82% earlier in the day. The contract fell for three straight sessions to its lowest closing in nearly seven weeks the previous day. “Firmer ringgit, lack of follow trough buying and gradual improvement in production as flooding subside capped gains,” a Kuala Lumpur-based trader said, adding that higher crude oil prices lend support to the contract. The Malaysian ringgit, the contract currency of trade, rose 0.29% on Tuesday. A stronger ringgit makes palm oil more expensive for foreign currency holders. Market participants were also waiting for the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision on its benchmark overnight interest rate on Wednesday, as ...