April 22, 2006	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 23, 1427

BANGKOK, April 21: Malaysian crude palm oil futures ended lower on Friday and activity was thin as players awaited export estimate data next week. The benchmark third-month July crude palm oil contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives in Kuala Lumpur ended down eight ringgit at 1,471 ringgit ($401.91) after trading as low as 1,466 ringgit.

The market ended lower on long liquidation based on the strength of the ringgit today, a Malaysian dealer in Kuala Lumpur said.

The ringgit strengthened to its highest against the dollar in almost eight years this week and has risen more than three per cent so far this year.

Volume was 4,965 lots of 25 tons. Other traded months were down between two and eight ringgit.

The market should move in a tight range on Monday, as the market was waiting for a clearer trend after export estimates for April 1-25 next week, dealers said.

The estimates were likely to fall between 950,000 and one million tons, still considered market friendly figures, dealers said.—Reuters