Global commodity markets delivered a mixed performance, with industrial commodities largely steady to positive, while agricultural prices showed sharp volatility across daily, weekly, and annual timelines.
Among industrial commodities, aluminium traded at $3,199.35, rising 0.76% on the day, 1% over the week, and posting a strong 22.5% year-on-year gain, reflecting sustained demand from manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. Urea also moved higher to $406.50, up 0.25% daily, 1.1% weekly, and 14.6% YoY, indicating firm fertilizer demand. Lead stood at $2,038.98, marginally higher on the day but down 1.2% over the week, while still up 4.8% annually.
In contrast, bitumen slipped 0.21% daily to $3,285.00, though it remains 4.2% higher on a weekly basis, despite a 11.6% YoY decline. Soda ash continued to face pressure at $1,208.00, unchanged in the short term but down a sharp 19.1% YoY. Manganese and molybdenum remained flat on the day and week, with moderate annual gains of 7.9% and 8.7%, respectively.
The agricultural segment saw sharper swings. Rice prices surged 3.18% in a single day to $10.99, though they remain 24% lower year-on-year, highlighting longer-term oversupply concerns. Cocoa rose 3.14% daily to $4,332.82, but is down 14.8% for the week and a steep 62% YoY, underscoring extreme volatility. Rubber gained 2.31% on the day and 2.4% weekly, while tea and cotton remained under pressure, with cotton down 7% YoY and tea slipping nearly 3% weekly.
On the corporate front, TCI Express Limited announced that its Board of Directors will meet on February 3, 2026, to consider and recommend an interim dividend for FY25–26. If declared, the record date is set for February 7, 2026. The board will also approve the company’s Q3 FY26 financial results, keeping the stock in focus for dividend-seeking investors.
IFGL Refractories Ltd disclosed that its UK-based material subsidiary, Sheffield Refractories Ltd, has appointed Hebblethwaites, a Sheffield-based firm of Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors, as its statutory auditors with effect from January 26, 2026, in line with UK regulatory requirements.
Meanwhile, Syngene International reported a softer Q3 performance, as a large biologics programme impacted revenue and margins during the December quarter. Despite near-term pressure, the company continues to press ahead with capital expenditure and capacity expansion, signaling confidence in long-term growth prospects in the biologics and research services space.
