Commodity Online

Stories by Commodity Online

Gold ETF: Waiting for lights to glitter

Gold ETF: Waiting for lights to glitter

Rediff.com   21 Nov 2007

The trend is expected to continue for a couple of months. But that hardly moves investors. Confusion, lack of knowledge and unpredictability are some reasons for gold ETF not pickling up as an investment option in India, market pundits say. The idea of gold ETF was first officially conceptualized by Benchmark Asset Management Company in India when it filed a proposal with the SEBI in May 2002.

Agriculture sector has revived: Pawar

Agriculture sector has revived: Pawar

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2007

According to Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, the revival in the agriculture sector has been due to the record production of 216 million tonnes of foodgrains, 22.7 million bales of cotton and 345 million tonnes of sugarcane in 2006-07. He said this revival was a result of the amendments made in the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Acts by the various state governments with the guidelines of the centre.

SBI to launch Gold ETF

SBI to launch Gold ETF

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2007

The State Bank of India said on Monday it would launch a gold exchange traded fund in 2008. "We are examining this product in our mutual fund company and we are hopeful we should be able to come out with an ETF next year," O P Bhatt, SBI chairman said at a conference in Mumbai.

India inks agri pacts with Russia, Kenya

India inks agri pacts with Russia, Kenya

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2007

ICAR and the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry have signed a four year workplan for collaborative research on agroforestry, primarily for dealing with the climate change effects and to provide secure livelihood systems to small and marginal farmers in various part of the country.

India has 390 million tones of gold ore deposits

India has 390 million tones of gold ore deposits

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2007

Apart from the regional exploration for gold and diamond undertaken by Geological Survey of India, since the year 2000, the Indian government has been giving prior approvals for grant of reconnaissance permits for regional exploration of gold and diamond to various applicants, including private companies, said a statement from Ramdas Agarwal, Minister of Mines.

Where is OPEC spending its wealth?

Where is OPEC spending its wealth?

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2007

Rarely has a cash explosion of $867 billioni ever hit the markets at one time. Yet that's exactly what's happening right now.

Are India & China driving global oil demand?

Are India & China driving global oil demand?

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2007

Oil demand from China and India alone is expected to double in the next two decades as their economies continue to expand

Chasing Gold to get a good night's sleep

Chasing Gold to get a good night's sleep

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2007

Registered in the Virgin Islands, this gold-based hedge fund took less than three months to gain approval from the UK's investment regulators, the Financial Services Authority. And charging 1.5 per cent per year -- plus 20 per cent of the gains made by those clients choosing to make the minimum $100,000 investment the Hinde Gold Fund is certainly less expensive than many other hedge funds.

Kerala wants waste plastic for roads

Kerala wants waste plastic for roads

Rediff.com   15 Nov 2007

After banning plastic carry bags and promoting paper bags and cups, Kerala government is now promoting the use of waste plastic in laying roads.

How futures market evolved in India

How futures market evolved in India

Rediff.com   15 Nov 2007

Organised futures market evolved in India by the setting up of "Bombay Cotton Trade Association Ltd." in 1875. In 1893, following widespread discontent amongst leading cotton mill owners and merchants over the functioning of the Bombay Cotton Trade Association, a separate association by the name Bombay Cotton Exchange Ltd was constituted.

India: Great potential in processed food

India: Great potential in processed food

Rediff.com   15 Nov 2007

While India is one of the largest food producers of the world with the organised sector accounting for food output worth $34827 million, only a small percentage of its farm produce is processed into value-added products.

Commodity futures trading to be liberalised: Pawar

Commodity futures trading to be liberalised: Pawar

Rediff.com   14 Nov 2007

India's Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar says the government is taking a series of measures to liberalise futures trading in commodities.

Pawar firm on wheat import move

Pawar firm on wheat import move

Rediff.com   14 Nov 2007

Pawar said the decision to float a fresh wheat import tender on government account this week was also correct.

Polls bring rich dividends to Gujarat milk farmers

Polls bring rich dividends to Gujarat milk farmers

Rediff.com   14 Nov 2007

With the Assembly elections slated for December 11 and 16 in the state, no milk cooperative has dared to reduce the milk procurement price during this glut season.

Gold special: Yellow fever grips India

Gold special: Yellow fever grips India

Rediff.com   13 Nov 2007

In India, all that glisters is gold. That is the 21st century message the one-billion strong India, witnessing a surge in consumer spending, is sending out to the world. If you have any doubt about Indian consumer's obsession with gold, just walk into any shopping mall, busy streets and market roads across Indian cities and towns. The shops which are swarmed by customers are certainly jewellery showrooms these days.

Two Fed cuts and the global economy

Two Fed cuts and the global economy

Rediff.com   6 Nov 2007

Despite two interest rate cuts from the Fed, concerns about the strength of the economy and the persistence of the credit crunch have so far kept high-yield bonds -- or junk bonds -- under pressure. Look at the closed-end funds, in particular. The gap between the value of the bonds held by these funds -- their net asset values -- and their market price is at historic highs.

China emerges top gold producer

China emerges top gold producer

Rediff.com   6 Nov 2007

In 2006, Chinese mines produced 240 tonnes of gold, about 10 per cent of global production, and up from 224 tonnes in 2005. Output was just 11 tonnes behind Australia, the world's third largest gold producer. So far this year, gold output is up 13.10 per cent from last year, and reports indicate steady growth over then next five years.

Special: What is an e-charkha?

Special: What is an e-charkha?

Rediff.com   1 Nov 2007

The letter 'e' has assumed special significance in this computer age. 'E-mail', 'e ticketing', 'e-booking', 'e-filing of return' and the words like that are pass. But 'e charkha'? One tends to become a bit sceptical about the existence of such a word in the first place, leave alone the product itself. If the Khadi & Village Industries Commission is to be believed, e-charkha is a reality.

London is now the leading global financial centre

London is now the leading global financial centre

Rediff.com   31 Oct 2007

London has been named the world's leading center of commerce in a survey by Mastercard. The survey found that London outpaced New York in four of the six dimensions used by the Worldwide Center of Commerce Index: economic stability, ease of doing business, financial flow and business center. While the other three are self-explanatory, business center "depends on the clustering effect of business formation, supported by efficiency in logistics and transportation linkages."

Global gold market getting overheated

Global gold market getting overheated

Rediff.com   31 Oct 2007

The spot gold price has gained 6 per cent this month after closing September in the high $730s. In just two months, gold has amassed 15 per cent in gains, up nearly 25 per cent so far this year. Analysts, however, say the market could be getting overheated and in need of a correction. Jon Nadler of Kitco.com agreed, telling traders to "stay on the alert for another arm-wrestling session between the profit-takers and the buyers out there."