Thai rice futures ends steady

Thai rice futures ended flat on Friday with some investors buying contracts to take physical delivery because supply in the open market is tight, brokers said.
Overall volume rose as 20 contracts of five percent white rice were traded compared to Thursday's 12. The most active November contract settled steady at 11.40 baht per kg, with the number of contracts traded rising to 16 from 6. Prices are not expected to move much higher in the next week in the absence of news to move the market, brokers said. On the physical front, Thai 5 percent white rice has been steady at 11.10 baht per kg.