Commodity Online, Mumbai

Stories by Commodity Online, Mumbai

Textiles: A decisive part of Indian economy

Textiles: A decisive part of Indian economy

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2008

In the face of testing global conditions, the Ministry of Textiles has stayed the course by introducing timely policy changes and innovative programmes aimed at spurring growth and development across the organised and unorganised sectors of the industry.

Jatropha makes this man do anything at any cost

Jatropha makes this man do anything at any cost

Rediff.com   26 May 2008

Banks denied him funding, the red-tapism and bureaucracy was also of no help. That did not discourage Akshay Vir Singh Tyagi from venturing into Jatropha cultivation seeing the huge potential for biofuels in the coming years. He has already promoted Jatropha cultivation in 5,500 acres of land in Uttar Pradesh and is aiming high. Tyagi already has invitation to set up projects in Maharashtra.

Needed: Another OPEC to solve oil crisis

Needed: Another OPEC to solve oil crisis

Rediff.com   24 May 2008

Here is an astonishing fact: on December 10 1998, the spot price for a barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude was exactly $10 and ninety eight cents. Nearly 10 years and one thousand and sixty two per cent later, it is time to ask some impolite questions about oil. Impolite questions are not always obvious questions, though.

Why you should not swim with gold jewels on

Why you should not swim with gold jewels on

Rediff.com   24 May 2008

The pure gold is alloyed with silver, copper and various to make it suitably hard for jewelery making. The percentage of pure gold is denoted by its carat (k) weight. Pure gold is 24k (ie.100per cent gold), the other common alloy carat weights are 22k, 18k, 14k, 10k and 9k. 9k gold is the hardest alloy. In addition to yellow gold, white gold and rose gold are also popular options. You can also find many two-tone styles, if you prefer a mix of colours.

Who will write CTT horrorscope?

Who will write CTT horrorscope?

Rediff.com   23 May 2008

The uncertainty over the implementation of the new tax continues as the Finance Bill has not been passed by the Parliament. Finance minister P Chidambaram had announced in his Budget proposal that the levy would come into effect from April 1. The uncertainty over the implementation of the new tax continues as the Finance Bill has not been passed by the Parliament. P Chidambaram had announced in his Budget proposal that the levy would come into effect from April 1.

Tackling climate calamities, the scientific way

Tackling climate calamities, the scientific way

Rediff.com   23 May 2008

The Village Resource Centres under ISRO programme must be linked with online network to disseminate agro advisory based on weather forecasting. It is very pertinent during weather calamities to minimise crop losses. In an event of unusual summer rains in Kerala, Kutttanad and Thrissur paddy farmers suffered to a large extent. If advance weather service is extended at community level, crop loss would have been minimised to some extent by covering the paddy grains.

Forget rising oil; invest in natural gas

Forget rising oil; invest in natural gas

Rediff.com   23 May 2008

Oil billionaire T Boone Pickens has predicted that crude oil will touch $150 soon. And he also says the one commodity that will grow bigger than oil is natural gas. In the last one year, natural gas prices across the world, especially in the US, UK and Russia have more than doubled.

Two European bids in MTN fray

Two European bids in MTN fray

Rediff.com   21 May 2008

The race for South African telecom major MTN Group is hotting up with the possibility of two other players evaluating a bid or a strategic relationship with the company. Banking sources say European telecom major Deutsche Telekom and Russian telco Vimpel Communications are also studying the possibility of talking to the MTN Group.

Biofuels: A necessary evil or. . .

Biofuels: A necessary evil or. . .

Rediff.com   20 May 2008

The world must take care when developing biofuels to avoid perverse environmental effects and higher food prices

Sales of luxury cars, bikes zoom

Sales of luxury cars, bikes zoom

Rediff.com   19 May 2008

The auto sector is doing well in India, despite stock market meltdown, emerging signals of industrial slowdown and rising costs.

Check gold purity with carat meter and be safe

Check gold purity with carat meter and be safe

Rediff.com   15 May 2008

A recent survey by Bureau of Indian Standards in Delhi revealed that there was indeed cheating on the part of jewelers and consumers were getting much lesser value for gold for the amount they pay.

Why no small-scale farmer in India is happy

Why no small-scale farmer in India is happy

Rediff.com   15 May 2008

Even though the government is making tall claims about the agriculture loan waiver and myriads of schemes for the uplift of farmers in the country, if you want to know the plight of small farmers you have to really go to the grassroots and ask them. In India there is not a single small-scale farmer who is living a happy life with enough income from his fields.

India's experiments with inflation

India's experiments with inflation

Rediff.com   15 May 2008

With inflation rising at its fastest rate, the Union government was prompted to reduce import duties on edible oils even as Reserve Bank of India is expected to bring in tighter monetary policies to combat the rising inflation rate. In an effort to temper price rises, the government has already cut import duties on edible oils and banned the export of pulses and most types of rice.

Why steel is a hot commodity in India

Why steel is a hot commodity in India

Rediff.com   15 May 2008

India's steel industry is surging ahead, entering into global deals and taking the country's economy to new heights. The Indian government plans to invest over $350 billion in steel industries related to infrastructure and construction. The Indian government estimates that steel production would grow at a CAGR of 16 per cent to touch 124.06 MT by 2011-12. India's steel production capacity is estimated to be 200 MT by 2020.

Bharti, MTN in talks for 50:50 cash-share deal

Bharti, MTN in talks for 50:50 cash-share deal

Rediff.com   15 May 2008

Banking sources said with the MTN shareholders asking for a higher price than what Bharti had initially offered, the Indian telecom company might now pay 50 per cent of the money in cash and the rest through shares in Bharti Airtel. The sources added that MTN is also believed not to favour signing an 'exclusivity' contract with Bharti Airtel under which it would be bound not to talk to any other competing bidder till the negotiations with them have been concluded.

Rice is dear to us, Mr Bush!

Rice is dear to us, Mr Bush!

Rediff.com   7 May 2008

In the new generation diplomacy, the US definitely occupies the most important place on Indian thinking wavelength but India is no sub-contractor of America in the global context wherein Uncle Sam can decide what and how much Indians should eat or not! US President George W Bush blaming the 'wealthy' lifestyle of India's huge middle class for the spiraling global food prices endorsing his Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice views only adds insult to the injury for Indians.

Software for tracking illegal gas trade

Software for tracking illegal gas trade

Rediff.com   6 May 2008

India's 'corrupt' gas market with unscrupulous dealers and delivery men is going to be a thing of the past as public oil companies are all set to tap the illegal sales of domestic gas. This system would put axe on your multiple connections intended to use cooking gas to run your multiple purposes.

India may ban food futures trading

India may ban food futures trading

Rediff.com   5 May 2008

Speaking to reporters in Madrid, he said ''The pressure is to suspend a few more food articles, If rightly or wrongly people perceive that commodities- futures trading is contributing to a speculation-driven rise in prices, then in a democracy you will have to heed that voice''. Left parties in India who supports the government wants to stop trading in cooking oil, sugar and other commodities, saying speculators are driving up prices and fanning inflation.

Real facts behind food crisis

Real facts behind food crisis

Rediff.com   5 May 2008

According to USDA estimates, the US accounted for an average of 11.5 percent of world exports of rice for calendar years 2004 through 2007 and is projected at 12.7 percent for 2008. US exports will increase to 3.5 million metric tons while world total exports decline to 27.5 MMT. The largest rice exporter is Thailand at 9.0 MMT for 2007/08, 32.7 percent of world exports, down 0.5 MMT from 2006/07 and up from 7.3 MMT in 2004/05 and 2005/06.

'Wanna beat rice crisis, go for sweet potatoes'

'Wanna beat rice crisis, go for sweet potatoes'

Rediff.com   2 May 2008

In a recent call to Filipinos, president Arroyo said they should boil rice with sweet potatoes or they should go for cheaper cereals to avoid going hungry as rice prices soared to record levels. "This is a once-a-millennium global crisis. We have an action plan," Arroyo said, noting that residents of the central island of Cebu are already using cheap sweet potatoes to beat the crisis.