NEW DELHI: Even as India's trade deficit widened to $ 7.79 billion, the turnaround in the dismal export performance continued for the third month in succession. Exports in January grew by 8.5 per cent in dollar terms on top of a seven per cent growth in December. Exports in January were worth $ 2.85 billion, up from $ 2.63 billion in the same month last year. Even with the positive export growth recorded since November, however, India's overall three-quarter export performance between April-January 1998-99 remained negative. Exports fell in dollar terms during this period by 1.98 per cent, from $ 27.7 billion in the same period of the previous year, to $ 27.16 billion. However, the seeming turnaround has revived hopes that fears of negative or flat export growth in 1998-99 may not come true.

Markets closed

MUMBAI: ALL the principal commodity markets including the Bombay Stock Exchange, National Stock Exchange, foregn exchange and money markets, bullion, sugar,vegetables, oilseeds, cotton, metal and spices will remain officially closed here on Tuesday on account of `Dhuleti' festival (the second day of holi).

US-64 prices

MUMBAI: UTI has increased the sale and repurchase price under Unit Scheme-64 by ten paise for April. UTI in a statement said the sale and repurchase price would be Rs 15.20 and Rs 14.90 respectively. UTI has been hiking the sale and repurchase prices for the last several months to reduce net outflow of funds.