The Kuala Lumpur Tin Market (KLTM) is expected to see continued good buying interest, keeping the commodity above US$24,000 per tonne. "The tin mart is expected to be on an upward trend next week given the strong buying interest seen," a dealer said. Developments on the London Metal Exchange (LME), the global trendsetter for metals, would also influence movements on the local market, he added. For the week just ended, tin price on the KLTM jumped US$2,105 to US$24,005 a tonne from US$21,900 a tonne previously. The market was closed on Monday and Tuesday for the Chinese New Year holiday. The weekly turnover decreased to 210 tonnes from 391 tonnes while the price differential between the KLTM and the LME on Friday stood at a premium of US$310 compared with US$340 a week earlier. -- Bernama

Malaysian rubber prices are likely to trend firmer next week while tracking regional futures markets. Dealers said the tight supply situation, Thailand's price-support plan and firm oil prices were expected to lend support to the commodity. Thailand, the world's biggest rubber producer, has approved a 15 billion baht plan to prop up the price of locally-grown natural rubber to 120 baht per kg (100 bath = RM9.7). Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve's announcement to hold a low interest rate regime was expected to help create better sentiment though the US GDP data would remain a concern among traders, a dealer said. On a weekly basis, the Malaysian Rubber Board's official physical price for tyre-grade SMR 20 gained 15.5 sen to 1,139.5 sen per kg from 1,124.0 sen per kg perviously while latex in bulk increased by 39.0 sen to 747.0 sen per kg from 708.0 sen per kg. The unofficial closing price for tyre-grade SMR 20 eased 1.0 sen to 1,131.5 sen per kg from 1,132.5 sen per kg last while latex in bulk rose 33.0 sen to 747.5 sen per kg from 714.5 sen per kg. -- Bernama

Crude palm oil (CPO) futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives are likely to witness range-bound trade next week amid concerns over slowing demand. Kan Wai Hing, a broker with Kenanga Deutsche Futures Sdn Bhd, said prices were expected to move between RM3,120 and RM3,150 per tonne. "Although the external market factors are strong, we still foresee lack of buying interest here. "Traders are expected to return from the Chinese New Year holiday, however active participation is also unlikely," she said. She said the market would unlikely be influenced by external factors. Data by cargo surveyor Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS) which saw a 19.9 per cent decline in Malaysian palm oil exports for Jan 1-25 to 947,401 tonnes from 1,182,707 tonnes during Dec 1-25, weighed on the local market sentiment. Traders were also concerned that the wet weather could disrupt palm oil production and list prices. The local CPO market was closed on Monday and Tuesday for the Chinese New Year holiday. For the week just ended, the market was on a mixed trend due to lack of buying interest. On a Friday-to-Friday basis, February 2012, March 2012 and May 2012 decreased RM26 each to RM3,137 per tonne, RM3,136 per tonne and RM3,126 per tonne respectively while April 2012 fell RM30 to RM3,135. Turnover dropped to 40,181 lots from 132,532 lots last week while open interest on Friday amounted to 108,690 contracts from 111,279 contracts previously. On the physical market, February South was lower at RM3,160 per tonne from RM3,165. -- Bernama