Indian sugar futures fell on Friday because of lack of demand during the monsoon season, but wheat prices firmed up after a government statement that the country had no plans to import grains, brokers said. September sugar at the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) fell 4 rupees to 1,886 rupees per 100 kg. October contract was down 5 rupees at 1,885 rupees.
"Sugar opened higher because of market talk on exports to Pakistan but prices fell as there is not much demand and the stock position is good," a leading broker said from Ahmedabad.
Traders said India is expected to strike sugar deals in Pakistan that this week removed a four-year ban on imports from its old rival. They said enquiries from private trade in Pakistan were growing and Islamabad was looking for consignments to contain rising domestic sugar prices.
September soyaoil at the NCDEX was up 0.45 rupees at 378.15 rupees per 10 kg. September soyaoil at the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) rose 0.90 rupees to 376.50 rupees per 10 kg.
"Soyaoil is stable, there is not much room for an increase at this moment because there is not much demand and the crop is doing very well," one broker said from Indore, the hub of the soyabean trade in central India.
Widespread rains in the key oilseed growing central and western regions over the past week have improved crop prospects.
Gold was mixed as the yellow metal slipped slightly but stayed close to late New York levels in Asia on Friday ahead of US jobs data and a threatened strike in South Africa, the world's largest producer of the precious metal.
Traders said market sentiment remained firm, however, and the market had the potential to top $440 an ounce next week, a key chart level. Spot gold was quoted at $437.60/$438.40 per ounce, compared with the late US level of $438.00/$438.80 on Thursday.
August gold at the MCX was quoted at 6,230 rupees per 10 grams, up 5 rupees from the previous close. But October contract lost 4 rupees to 6,241 rupees.