Sreekumar Raghavan, Commodity Online

Stories by Sreekumar Raghavan, Commodity Online

Shrinking dollar and surging gold

Shrinking dollar and surging gold

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2008

Want a racing certainty for the coming year? Take a look at the dollar and gold... Who can say what 2008 may bring? A post-Olympics crash in China, perhaps, tipping its near-10 per cent annual rate of expansion into an historic slump.

Energy bill gets US Congress approval

Energy bill gets US Congress approval

Rediff.com   21 Dec 2007

The bill which passed on a bipartisan vote of 314 to 100, sets higher fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks for the first time in 22 years and requires the annual production of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2022.

Indian jewellery exports to US may get hit

Indian jewellery exports to US may get hit

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2007

Several exporters in Surat said they are finding it tough to clear their stocks for Christmas as they are not in a position to contain the price rise caused by the GSP withdrawal and strengthening of rupee against dollar.

Commodity futures training now in IIM

Commodity futures training now in IIM

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2007

A press release by the IIM says that the seminar is expected to see representation from from Punjab, U.P, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Tripura, and Assam.

Rabi wheat sowing to gain momentum soon

Rabi wheat sowing to gain momentum soon

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2007

According to a Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy press note, nearly 30.6 million hectares were sown as of November 23, against 34.5 million hectares a year ago.

More commodities to figure in NCDEX Spot

More commodities to figure in NCDEX Spot

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2007

According to officials, after launching sugar successful on its electronic platform, NCDEX Spot has decided to go in for more commodities.

Praj Ind, Icrisat join hands to produce ethanol

Praj Ind, Icrisat join hands to produce ethanol

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2007

India's biofuel sector witnessed another boost this week with Praj Industries, the Pune-based biofuel technology company, joining an Icrisat-backed consortium to promote ethanol production from sweet sorghum.

Chhattisgarh paddy farmers reap rich dividends

Chhattisgarh paddy farmers reap rich dividends

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2007

According to agriculture department officials, the state is heading for a bumper paddy harvest despite a slight reduction in acreage compared with the previous year.

US strengthens agri trade with China

US strengthens agri trade with China

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2007

Giving a clear signal to the world that the US is all set to tap the China market, the US Department of Agriculture last week opened a new agricultural trade office in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's province of Sichuan.

India needs 51 million truck drivers

India needs 51 million truck drivers

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2007

The study paper -- 'Skills Gaps in the Indian Logistics Sector' -- estimates that currently India has only some 3 million truck drivers for medium and heavy commercial vehicles. Even if 50 per cent of all drivers in India are to be trained, almost 125 institutes of the size and scale of the existing one in Namakkal will be required in the next 7-8 years, says the paper.

MCX: Emerging global leader in commodities

MCX: Emerging global leader in commodities

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2007

ICICI Venture Funds Management Co. acquired 3.55 per cent, Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services 5 per cent and Kotak Group 1 per cent in MCX from the holding company Financial Technologies. The transaction values the company at $1.1 billion.

What will be the oil price at Christmas?

What will be the oil price at Christmas?

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2007

In talking about the market in crude oil we often looks for items, events, and structures that repeat themselves. We pin some kind of faith on them because we are unable to see the future with any real clarity. For regular readers of this column, you will realise that this is the start of an explanation as to why we predicted crude oil would be $66.60 at Christmas.

Meet the hottest commodity trader

Meet the hottest commodity trader

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2007

His name is Lee Lowell -- and he's one of those rare men in the investing world. He's not about flash. He doesn't drive a fancy car or wear $2,000 suits. He's not about climbing the ladder at any of those hotshot trading firms (though any firm would be glad to have him).

Can Darjeeling Tea win back its old charm?

Can Darjeeling Tea win back its old charm?

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2007

Fears of 'Darjeeling Tea' losing its charm have been growing for quite sometime now. Another factor added to the worries of 'Darjeeling Tea' producers was the plantations' heavy dependence on fertilisers and pesticides that were being hawked by foreign corporations. In the recent days, there is a wind of optimism blowing through the Darjeeling hills, and a growing sense that Darjeeling Tea is on its way to reclaiming its legendary status.

Will all metals plunge on a global recession?

Will all metals plunge on a global recession?

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2007

Will a US recession tip the entire metals complex, including Gold Prices, sharply lower in 2008...? Add the falling dollar to rosy growth forecasts from China and what do you get? If you guessed higher commodity prices, you get a gold star. Yet among the big investment institutions, there's mixed opinion about what metals prices will do in 2008.

Gold prices will zoom to record levels in 2008

Gold prices will zoom to record levels in 2008

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2007

Gold price will surge to a record high of $900/oz, driven by a weaker US dollar and economic turmoil in 2008, while a surplus in the metal will narrow by 97 tonnes, possibly dipping into a deficit, keeping prices strong, according to the VM Group/Fortis bi-annual The Yellow Book.

US, China ink biofuels cooperation pact

US, China ink biofuels cooperation pact

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2007

The two countries agree to work together on the scientific, technical, and policy aspects of biofuels development, production, and use. These areas include biomass production and sustainability, conversion technologies, bio-based products, and rural development strategies.

Global agriculture boom has just begun only...

Global agriculture boom has just begun only...

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2007

Worldwide food demand is growing, and continued economic growth around the world is only going to spur more and more food demand. Once you add the growth in the world population to the mix, you've got one heck of an investment opportunity cropping up (pardon the pun) in the agricultural industry.

MCX mulls IPO again

MCX mulls IPO again

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2007

The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs is all set to announce the guidelines for FDI in commodity exchanges. Following this, the Forward Markets Commission is expected to submit the proposal for ownership structure of exchanges before the Union ministry of consumer affairs.

Check out India's first commodity cards

Check out India's first commodity cards

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2007

This card is a variation of the popular Kisan Credit card.G-Card was distributed to nearly 3,500 small and marginal farmers growing ginger in the remote militant infested district of Karbi Anglong. The card has brought a lot of benefits to the farmers of the area, who often had to shell out 'revolutionary taxes' on cash transactions.