December 6, 2001	Thursday	Ramazan 20, 1422

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5: Malaysian crude palm oil futures fell in choppy trade on Wednesday with players eagerly awaiting fresh estimates for November output, end-month stocks and exports.

Influential private forecaster Ivan Wong, who earlier estimated November output to reach 1.04 million tonnes, down nine percent from October, will release his new projections on Thursday.

At the close, the benchmark third-month February futures were down 21 ringgit at 1,142 ringgit ($300.53) a ton after trading as high as 1,158 ringgit. They had touched a low of 1,140.

Volume was 1,501 lots, down from 2,355 lots on Tuesday.

Stocks swelled to a near-record high of 1.52 million tons at the end of January this year.

December crude palm oil output was projected to fall to 950,000 tons against an estimated 1.04 million tons in November and against the official 942,711 tons in December 2000.

In the physical sector, the December contract for the southern and central regions were offered at 1,100 ringgit a ton against bids at 1,095.

Trade was reported at 1,090 to 1,095 for south and at 1,095 to 1,097.50 for central.

The January contract for the southern and central regions saw bid at 1,125 ringgit against offer at 1,130. Deals were done at 1,130 to 1,135 for south and central.—Reuters