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  • NotebookLM started as a Google Labs experiment, so I tested other Labs projects to see how they stack up

    NotebookLM started as a Google Labs experiment, so I tested other Labs projects to see how they stack up

    NotebookLM started off as a Google Labs experiment, under the code name “Project Tailwind” in 2023. If you aren’t familiar with Google Labs, it’s basically Google’s experimental playground, where the company tests out early-stage AI tools and features before deciding whether they’re worth rolling out widely.

    Though NotebookLM is one of the experiments that survived and is now widely available for anyone to try out, Google has a long list of other Labs projects that the company is experimenting with. After testing out NotebookLM’s competitors, I figured it was only fair to see how the rest of Google’s Labs experiments stack up.

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    Illuminate

    Like NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews, but better

    For the first Labs experiment I properly tried out, I figured it made sense to go with something that felt close to NotebookLM. That’s where Illuminate, a Google Labs experiment that’s “dedicated to fostering learning” and can turn research papers into AI-generated audio summaries (like NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews), comes in.

    When you first head to Illuminate’s website, you’ll have the option to listen to a conversation about a few research papers curated by Google. A play icon, along with the duration of the Audio Overview, is displayed right below each title. Upon clicking it, you’ll hear a two-person AI-generated conversation between two virtual AI hosts, a male and a female.

    There’s also a small hand icon at the bottom (like the Raise Hand icon in Meet). Clicking it pulls up a Q&A section where you can ask questions related to the paper being discussed. It also shows example prompts to help you get started, and gives three follow-up questions after each query to keep things going.

    The answers are clear and to the point. Like NotebookLM, Illuminate only references the source (the research paper, in this case) to answer your queries. This means the chances of the AI simply telling you what you want to hear, even if it’s inaccurate, are slim to none. For instance, I asked Illuminate what XDA is, and it said:

    Thanks for the question. I can only answer questions directly related to the content.

    Other than listening to the already-created Audio Overviews on Illuminate, you can create your own too by switching to the Generate section. You can upload a URL of any web content, and Illuminate will convert it into an AI podcast, as long as it isn’t paywalled content. Illuminate gives you a lot more control than NotebookLM, which I appreciate.

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    Learn About

    An actual AI study Buddy

    Google's Learn About tool

    Though NotebookLM isn’t limited to students only, and I use it for various other tasks like preparing for job interviews myself, I’d be lying if I said I don’t primarily use it for studying. I’m a full-time student, and studying isn’t easy. And NotebookLM makes it a lot more manageable.

    Another Google Labs experiment the company is working on where the primary focus is “learning” is Learn About. It’s an AI-powered learning companion that’s pretty much supposed to act like a personal tutor. When you head to the experiment’s website, the first page you’ll see is “What would you like to learn today?,” where you can type in any topic you’d like to study.

    To test it out, I thought the best idea was to try and see how it’d teach me a topic I was already familiar with. Since I’m a computer science major, I typed in “teach me the basic syntax of Python.” Within seconds, the AI tool responded with an in-depth answer that had multiple interactive elements.

    In this example, the answer included an interactive list of the “Key Elements of Python Syntax,” which showed a relevant image of each element and a short snippet.

    Google Labs Key Elements of Photo Syntax

    And if I wanted to learn more about a certain element, all I had to do was click on it. The answer included examples of basic Python syntax, and even a learning card called “Stop and Think.”

    The learning card was probably what I liked most about Learn About. It basically presented a fact about Python syntax and then posed a question. After you stopped and thought about it, clicking the Tap and reveal button would display the answer.

    Google Labs Stop and Think card

    Like NotebookLM and Gemini, citations were always present next to each claim, and hovering over a citation revealed the exact text where Learn About pulled the information from.

    I decided to click on one of the interactive elements from the list I mentioned earlier, and it explained that particular element (indentation) in depth with a table (that included the rule, explanation, and a conceptual example) and images.

    Here’s another tidbit I loved: the explanation included a “Common misconception” learning card, which, as the name suggests, called out a common misconception.

    There was also a Comprehension check button at the bottom, which said:

    Comprehension check

    Now that we’ve covered the rules of Python indentation, try explaining in your own words why it’s so important and what happens if it’s incorrect.

    Why is indentation critical in Python, and what is the consequence of incorrect indentation?

    It included a text box where I could type my answer and get feedback on it! It then assessed my response and highlighted its strengths and weaknesses. After every question you asked, it would suggest related content, which I found really helpful. There was also the option to simplify the explanation, get a more in-depth answer, or view related images.

    What I loved about Learn About is how interactive and aesthetically pleasing the tool was. It made learning new information a lot more intuitive. And it’s easy to tell it’s made for the sole purpose of learning something new and supporting active learning, rather than just spitting out information like other AI chatbots.

    The ability to adjust the complexity of the explanation, get instant feedback, and explore visuals all in one place made it feel less like I was using a chatbot and more like I was inside a digital study room built just for me.

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    Little Language Lessons

    Like Duolingo, but with an AI twist

    Google's Little Language Lessons

    The Little Language Lessons contain three “bite-sized learning experiments,” all powered by Google’s multimodal large language model (LLM), Gemini. The best part is all of them are uniquely refreshing, and I haven’t seen them done before.

    The first bite-sized experiment within this collection is Tiny Lessons, where you can describe a situation (like ordering coffee) and it’ll compile useful vocabulary, phrases, and grammar tips in a language of your choice.

    For instance, some vocabulary words it suggested for me, both in English and the language I chose, were: coffee, milk, sugar, hot, cold, and more. It suggested genuinely useful phrases like “Give me a coffee,” “How much does it cost?,” and “Do you have iced coffee?”

    Google labs hindi for ordering coffee

    Lastly, it suggested a grammar tip, where the AI explained that being polite while ordering coffee is key, and adding “please” in the language I had chosen would be the way to go!

    If you travel often and feel like you sound too formal when speaking a foreign language, the next bite-sized example, Slang Hang, is something you’ll love. It allows you to “generate a realistic conversation between native speakers” on a randomized scenario. For instance, this is the scenario I got:

    Setting: A bustling outdoor farmers market in Moscow on a crisp autumn morning. Anya, a young art student, is sketching the vendors when she overhears a conversation between Dmitri, a middle-aged farmer, and a customer.

    Though the entire conversation will be in the language you’re learning, you can translate it to your native language as well. You can also click the speaker icon to listen to the pronunciation, which I found incredibly helpful.

    The last experiment, Word Cam, is best for when you can’t think of words in another language for things right in front of you. All you need to do is snap a photo, and Gemini will detect the objects in the image and label them in your target language.

    Word Cam Google Labs experiment

    It’ll also include additional words you can use to describe the objects, which can really help when learning new languages.

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    Google Labs is definitely up to something

    The three experiments I walked through above are just some of the projects Google’s currently working on. You can find a lot more on the Google Labs website’s Experiments section. After trying the abvove and many others out, I can say with complete confidence that Google’s up to something, and it’s clear that it didn’t just get lucky with NotebookLM.

    There’s real thought and experimentation going into each of these tools, even if some feel a bit early or niche, they’re all pushing toward the same goal: making learning and information access smarter, more interactive, and a lot less boring.

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  • Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei in first public appearance since Israel war

    Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei in first public appearance since Israel war

    Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has made his first public appearance since the start of Iran’s conflict with Israel, according to state media.

    State television footage showed him greeting worshippers at a mosque on Saturday during a ceremony a day before the Shia festival of Ashura.

    Khamenei’s last appearance was in a recorded address during the conflict with Israel, which began on 13 June and during which top Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists were killed.

    Israel launched a surprise attack on nuclear and military sites in Iran, after which Iran retaliated with aerial attacks targeting Israel.

    During the 12-day war with Israel, Khamenei appeared on TV in three video messages and there was speculation that he was hiding in a bunker.

    On Saturday Iranian media coverage was dominated by Khamenei’s appearance, with footage of supporters expressing joy at seeing him on television.

    Khamenei is seen turning to senior cleric Mahmoud Karimi, encouraging him to “sing the anthem, O Iran”. The patriotic song became particularly popular during the recent conflict with Israel.

    State TV said the clip was filmed at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosque, named after the founder of the Islamic republic.

    Iranian TV has invited people to send in videos sharing their reactions to Khamenei’s return to the public eye.

    His appearance comes as the predominantly Shia Muslim country observes a period of mourning during the month of Muharram, traditionally attended by the supreme leader.

    Ashura is held on the 10th day of Muharram – this year falling on 6 July – during which Shia Muslims commemorate the death of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hossein.

    On 26 June, in pre-recorded remarks aired on state television, Khamenei said Iran would not surrender to Israel despite US President Donald Trump’s calls.

    The US joined the war with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on 22 June.

    The operation involved 125 US military aircraft and targeted three nuclear facilities: Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan.

    Iran’s judiciary said more than 900 people were killed during the 12-day war.

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  • Take a rare look inside the lab where Apple tests the durability of its new iPhone models

    Take a rare look inside the lab where Apple tests the durability of its new iPhone models

    According to Counterpoint, Apple has 200 durability labs that it uses to put hardware through extremely rough tests to make sure that products like the iPhone can survive real-life usage. It’s these tests that are run inside the labs that allow iPhone units to retain 40% more value than Android phones in the market for refurbished devices. Counterpoint also points out that the iPhone owns a 56% share of the global refurbished smartphone market.

    How Apple tests its devices to see how they hold up against water, drops, vibrations and more

    It’s not just the iPhone that holds more value than its rival, non-Apple devices. Counterpoint says that similar performance is seen with other products such as the Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Counterpoint took notes of what it saw during its walk through one of Apple’s durability labs. The first tests that Counterpoint mentioned covered how these products would hold up in different environments.

    With Apple devices available in over 175 countries, the company tests how warm and humid conditions affect its products. Counterpoint spotted a test to see how 100 hours of exposure to salt affects Apple devices. Apple also exposes Apple products to sand from the Arizona desert to see how the iPhone responds when fine sand particles find a home inside the iPhone’s speaker grille or charging port. Other tests used artificial versions of sweat and earwax created in the lab to see how these products hold up to constant exposure of the real things.

    Many of you are probably interested in learning how Apple tests its products to determines how they hold up to liquid and water exposure. In its labs, Apple simulates rain and other conditions that reveal the level of water resistance on individual products. First is the drip ceiling test which might not be actual rain, but is an incredible simulation. If the device passes this test, it is eligible for an IP X5 rating. The X means that the product has not been tested for dust resistance.

    The next test measures how Apple’s devices stand up to high pressure water jets from a distance. Passing this test gives this product an IP X6 rating. Apple tests for IPX7 and IPX8 ratings by using a pressurized tank simulating water depths of up to one meter and six meters, respectively. While this protection is valid for iPhones being submerged in clear water, the company tests other liquids, including sodas, juices, sunscreens, and perfumes.

    The maximum IP score available on the most recently released iPhone 16 series is the IP68 Ingress Protection rating for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. This rating means that these handsets are impervious to dust and can be submerged in up to over 19 feet of clear liquid for up to 30 minutes.

    The drop test might be the most visually interesting test to view

    The next series of tests measures how Apple products respond to drops. Counterpoint says that an “accidental drop” is among the top three reasons why a phone needs to be repaired. Counterpoint saw tests “simulating a variety of randomized, accidental drops that Apple products may experience in everyday use.” To help with the drop tests. Apple has created a klutzy robot that drops devices at various angles and on various surfaces including asphalt, particle, and granite boards. Each drop is analyzed by Apple using a special app used by company engineers.

    The last test measures how Apple devices stand up to vibrations. Products are placed on a table that recreates the different types of vibrations that these products might face in transit or during other conditions.

    Counterpoint says that it was impressed with Apple’s attention to detail, along with the large number of iPhone units tested before launch. The report says that Apple will test at least 10,000 handsets before unveiling the latest models. The iPhone 17 series, expected to include the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, should be introduced in early September and released later that same month.

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  • Physical Activity as a Lifestyle Intervention for Type 1 Diabetics: A Comprehensive Review

    Physical Activity as a Lifestyle Intervention for Type 1 Diabetics: A Comprehensive Review


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  • US dollar has worst first half in more than 50 years amid Trump tariffs

    US dollar has worst first half in more than 50 years amid Trump tariffs

    WASHINGTON: The US dollar has had its worst first half-year in more than 50 years, as the financial markets over the last six months were dominated by geopolitical crises and Donald Trump’s trade war.

    The dollar has fallen by 10.8% against a basket of currencies since the start of 2025. That is its worst performance over the first six months of any year since 1973, and the worst half-year since the second half of 1991.

    This sell-off has pulled the dollar index down to its lowest level since March 2022 and lifted the pound to a three-year high of $1.37, up from $1.25 at the start of the year.

    Asian stocks waver, dollar sags under weight of Trump tariffs, Fed uncertainty

    Investors have been selling the US currency due to concerns that Trump’s economic policies threaten the safe-haven role of US dollar-denominated assets, with economists predicting that the president’s “big beautiful” budget bill will drive the US national debt even higher.

    Analysts at Unicredit said: “The US dollar is the most notable loser so far this year as it has lost 10% against other currencies, with investor concerns regarding Trump’s policies having weighed on the greenback. On the other hand, the euro has risen by 5%.”

    David Morrison, a senior market analyst at the financial services company Trade Nation, said: “Trump’s tariffs, the fact that many investors view his administration as somewhat chaotic, along with concerns over US national debt have seen the dollar fall out of favour.”

    Rising expectations of US interest rate cuts have also hurt the dollar, as Trump has repeatedly criticised the Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, for not lowering borrowing costs and hinted that Powell’s replacement would push for rate reductions and could be named early.

    Chris Iggo, the chair of the Axa IM Investment Institute, said broader market returns had been strong in the first half of 2025. “Any sell-off in risky assets has been quickly reversed. Even measures of implied volatility have moved lower. Traders are betting more heavily on multiple US interest rate cuts,” he said.

    Stock markets have had a turbulent 2025 so far – most have posted gains over the last six months but getting there was a bumpy journey.

    Carsten Brzeski, the global head of macro at ING Research, said it had been an “action-packed” first six months of the year, with key developments including “tariffs, market volatility, questions about Fed independence, a US credit downgrade, fiscal stimulus on steroids, rising debt, deportations, visa restrictions for foreign students, the war in Ukraine entering its fourth year, and Germany doing a fiscal U-turn with a likely doubling of defence spending”.

    US and European markets weakened through March as Trump sparred with China, Mexico and Canada over trade deals, before a global sell-off in early April after his announcement of hefty “Liberation Day” tariffs alarmed investors. That tumble – the worst week for the US stock market since 2020 – appeared to alarm the White House, prompting a 90-day pause on tariffs and claims of “Taco” – Trump always chickens out.

    So although the US has only signed a single trade deal so far, with the UK, hopes of further progress – or a further pause on tariffs – triggered a historic rebound that lifted the S&P 500 index of US stocks to a record high by the end of June.

    According to Bloomberg, it was only the third time in the last 100 years that the S&P 500 has dropped 10% and rebounded to a gain within the same calendar quarter. Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, said US equities had “fully brushed off” the sell-off led by the trade war.

    “Funny enough, the rally was not necessarily backed by material progress in trade negotiations, but rather by the so-called Taco trade and Fomo – with Taco standing for ‘Trump always chickens out’ and Fomo standing for ‘fear of missing out’ on the chickening out,” she said. “There’s also the conviction that the Federal Reserve will cut rates sooner rather than later, that earnings growth will remain strong despite trade uncertainties, and that AI will eventually boost productivity and reduce costs.”

    Even so, US markets have lagged behind some European markets. The S&P 500 has only gained 5% during 2025 so far, slower than the pan-European Stoxx 600 (+7%), the UK’s FTSE 100 (up 7.2%), or Germany’s Dax (up 20%).

    The UK has been one of the best-performing regions globally for investors in the first half of 2025.

    “Tariffs, downgrades to earnings and economic forecasts and geopolitical conflict were the defining factors for markets in the first half of 2025,” said Dan Coatsworth, an investment analyst at AJ Bell. “They’ve caused considerable uncertainty which has affected asset prices, as well as business and consumer confidence. It’s led to one of the biggest shifts in investor preferences for years, with certain parts of the market coming to life and previous winners losing their crown. We’re now seeing the great big asset allocation reset and the US is no longer top choice for many investor portfolios.”

    Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

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  • PMEX daily trading report – Markets

    PMEX daily trading report – Markets

    KARACHI: On Thursday at PMEX, the traded value of Metals, Energy, COTS and indices was recorded at PKR 36.788 billion and the number of lots traded was 46,348.

    Major business was contributed by Gold amounting to PKR 17.055 billion, followed by COTS (PKR9.249 billion), Platinum (PKR 3.722 billion), Silver (PKR 2.487 billion), NSDQ 100 (PKR 1.974 billion), Crude oil (PKR 1.044 billion), DJ (PKR 318.918 million), Copper (PKR 291.984 million), Natural Gas (PKR 253.688 million), SP500 (PKR 148.535 million), Japan Equity (PKR 90.746 million), Palladium (66.160 million), Brent (PKR 22.408 million) and Aluminium (7.304 million).

    In Agricultural commodities, 9 lots amounting to PKR 54.932 million were traded.

    Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

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  • Brazilian state on track to surpass Vietnam’s coffee output – Markets

    Brazilian state on track to surpass Vietnam’s coffee output – Markets

    CAMPINAS, (Brazil): Brazilian coffee exporter Grupo Tristao sees coffee production in Espirito Santo state potentially exceeding that of Vietnam in the coming years, as it plans to build a large new warehouse in the region to meet the supply increase.

    Espirito Santo is Brazil’s second-largest coffee-producing state, behind only Minas Gerais, but while the latter is a large arabica producer, the former focuses more on robusta, a generally cheaper variety primarily used to make instant coffee.

    If it were a country, Espirito Santo alone would rank third globally in coffee output, behind Brazil and Vietnam. But the head of Grupo Tristao, a leading exporter of green and instant coffee, believes that the state will soon close the gap with the Asian country, which also produces mostly robusta.

    “It is not impossible to imagine that five years from now, Espirito Santo will be producing more than Vietnam,” Sergio Tristao told Reuters in an interview on Thursday.

    He pointed to advanced technology and irrigation, as well as room to expand planting on degraded pastures, as factors behind the projected increase. Market participants have voiced surprise at the quick growth in Brazil’s robusta coffee production.

    The US Department of Agriculture expects Vietnam to produce 31 million 60-kg bags of coffee in 2025/26, while Espirito Santo’s output was estimated at 21.5 million bags – also, including some arabica output.

    Brazil’s total coffee production is seen at 65 million bags in the season. Family-run Grupo Tristao plans to build a large warehouse for at least 1 million bags in Espirito Santo to improve logistics as supply grows, Tristao said.

    The warehouse will be located near the brand-new Imetame Port in the city of Aracruz, whose operations are slated to begin in 2027. “We are going to buy land near the port and plan our future there,” Tristao said.

    The group currently owns a warehouse for about 300,000 bags in Espirito Santo and another one in Minas Gerais state.

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  • Copper slides as focus shifts to July 9 US tariff deadline – Markets

    Copper slides as focus shifts to July 9 US tariff deadline – Markets

    LONDON: Copper prices retreated on Friday as focus switched to US President Donald Trump’s July 9 deadline when sweeping tariffs take effect on countries that have not yet secured trade agreements.

    Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was down 0.8% at $9,880 a metric ton in official open-outcry trading, having hit a three-month high of $10,020.5 a ton earlier this week.

    Volumes were subdued due to the July 4 Independence Day holiday in the United States, traders said.

    Trump said his administration will begin sending letters later on Friday to 10 to 12 countries informing them of the tariff rate their products will face in the US Caution due to several large trading partners, including the European Union, Japan and India, still trying to negotiate a deal with the US had triggered profit-taking on long positions or bets on higher prices, traders said.

    On the technical front, first support for copper, used in power and construction, comes in at the 21-day moving average around $9,762. Elsewhere, worries about aluminium supplies on the LME created by large holdings of warrants and nearby contracts receded due to slowing outflows and deliveries to the LME-registered warehouses. Aluminium stocks in LME warehouses have climbed 27,025 tons to 363,925 tons since June 25. Cancelled warrants or metal earmarked for delivery at 2% indicate only small amounts are due to be delivered out.

    Overall, a softer dollar was providing some support for industrial metals on Friday. But traders said growing prospects of the Federal Reserve holding interest rates steady after Thursday’s strong jobs report could boost the US currency and weigh on metals demand. Aluminium was down 0.6% at $2,590.5 a ton in official activity, zinc fell 0.5% to $2,736, lead eased 0.1% to $2,062, tin retreated 0.3% to $33,750 and nickel slipped 0.9% to $15,315.

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  • World food prices tick higher in June – Markets

    World food prices tick higher in June – Markets

    PARIS: Global food commodity prices edged higher in June, supported by higher meat, vegetable oil and dairy prices, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization said on Friday.

    The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in a basket of internationally traded food commodities, averaged 128.0 points in June, up 0.5% from May. The index stood 5.8% higher than a year ago, but remained 20.1% below its record high in March 2022.

    The cereal price index fell 1.5% to 107.4 points, now 6.8% below a year ago, as global maize prices dropped sharply for a second month. Larger harvests and more export competition from Argentina and Brazil weighed on maize, while barley and sorghum also declined.

    Wheat prices, however, rose due to weather concerns in Russia, the European Union, and the United States.

    The vegetable oil price index rose 2.3% from May to 155.7 points, now 18.2% above its June 2024 level, led by higher palm, rapeseed, and soy oil prices.

    Palm oil climbed nearly 5% from May on strong import demand, while soy oil was supported by expectations of higher demand from the biofuel sector following announcements of supportive policy measures in Brazil and the United States.

    Sugar prices dropped 5.2% from May to 103.7 points, the lowest since April 2021, reflecting improved supply prospects in Brazil, India, and Thailand.

    Meat prices rose to a record 126.0 points, now 6.7% above June 2024, with all categories rising except poultry. Bovine meat set a new peak, reflecting tighter supplies from Brazil and strong demand from the United States. Poultry prices continued to fall due to abundant Brazilian supplies.

    The dairy price index edged up 0.5% from May to 154.4 points, marking a 20.7% annual increase. In a separate report, the FAO forecast global cereal production in 2025 at a record 2.925 billion tonnes, 0.5% above its previous projection and 2.3% above the previous year. The outlook could be affected by expected hot, dry conditions in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly for maize with plantings almost complete.

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  • Malaysian palm oil drifts lower – Markets

    Malaysian palm oil drifts lower – Markets

    KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian palm oil futures closed lower on Friday, weighed by weaker rival edible oils at the Chicago and Dalian markets and by profit booking, though the contract still managed to post its seventh weekly gain in eight.

    The benchmark palm oil contract for September delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange slid 29 ringgit, or 0.71%, to 4,062 ringgit ($963.02) a metric ton at the close. The contract rose 1.27% this week.

    Crude palm oil prices were lower, tracking weakness in soybean oil and Dalian palm olein prices, said David Ng, a proprietary trader at Kuala Lumpur-based trading firm Iceberg X Sdn Bhd.

    “Profit-taking activities after the recent price rally also affected the market,” he added.

    Dalian’s most-active soyoil contract fell 0.95%, while its palm oil contract shed 0.07%. Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade lost 0.96%.

    Palm oil tracks the price movements of rival edible oils as it competes for a share of the global vegetable oils market. Oil futures fell slightly after Iran reaffirmed its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation, while major producers from the OPEC+ group are set to agree to raise their output this weekend.

    Weaker crude oil futures make palm a less attractive option for biodiesel feedstock. The ringgit, palm’s currency of trade, strengthened 0.05% against the dollar, making the commodity slightly expensive for buyers holding foreign currencies.

    Malaysia’s palm oil inventories likely dropped for the first time in four months in June as production fell unexpectedly while export demand remained robust for the tropical oil, a Reuters survey showed.

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