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In India commodity markets have been in existence for decades. However in 1975 the Government banned forward contracts on commodities. Later in 2003 the Government of India again allowed forward contracts in commodities. There have been over 20 exchanges existing for commodities all over the country. However these exchanges are commodity specific and have a strong regional focus. The Government, in order to make the commodities market more transparent and efficient, accorded approval for setting up of national level multi commodity exchanges. Accordingly three exchanges are there which deal in a wide variety of commodities and which allow nation-wide trading. They are
1.Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX)
MCX an independent and de-mutulised multi commodity exchange has permanent recognition from Government of India for facilitating online trading, clearing and settlement operations for commodity futures markets across the country. Key shareholders of MCX are Financial Technologies (India) Ltd., State Bank of India, NABARD, NSE, HDFC Bank, State Bank of Indore, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Saurashtra, SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Union Bank of India, Bank Of India, Bank Of Baroda, Canara Bank, Corporation Bank.
Headquartered in Mumbai, MCX is led by an expert management team with deep domain knowledge of the commodity futures markets. Through the integration of dedicated resources, robust technology and scalable infrastructure, since inception MCX has recorded many first to its credit.
Inaugurated in November 2003 by Shri Mukesh Ambani, Chairman & Managing Director, Reliance Industries Ltd, MCX offers futures trading in the following commodity categories: Agri Commodities, Bullion, Metals- Ferrous & Non-ferrous, Pulses, Oils & Oilseeds, Energy, Plantations, Spices and other soft commodities.
MCX has built strategic alliances with some of the largest players in commodities eco-system, namely, Bombay Bullion Association, Bombay Metal Exchange, Solvent Extractors' Association of India, Pulses Importers Association, Shetkari Sanghatana, United Planters Association of India and India Pepper and Spice Trade Association.
Today MCX is offering spectacular growth opportunities and advantages to a large cross section of the participants including Producers / Processors, Traders, Corporate, Regional Trading Centers, Importers, Exporters, Cooperatives, Industry Associations, amongst others MCX being nation-wide commodity exchange, offering multiple commodities for trading with wide reach and penetration and robust infrastructure, is well placed to tap this vast potential.
2.National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX)
National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) is a professionally managed online multi commodity exchange promoted by ICICI Bank Limited (ICICI Bank), Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE). Punjab National Bank (PNB), CRISIL Limited (formerly the Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited), Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) and Canara Bank by subscribing to the equity shares have joined the initial promoters as shareholders of the Exchange. NCDEX is the only commodity exchange in the country promoted by national level institutions. This unique parentage enables it to offer a bouquet of benefits, which are currently in short supply in the commodity markets. The institutional promoters of NCDEX are prominent players in their respective fields and bring with them institutional building experience, trust, nationwide reach, technology and risk management skills.
NCDEX is a public limited company incorporated on April 23, 2003 under the Companies Act, 1956. It obtained its Certificate for Commencement of Business on May 9, 2003. It has commenced its operations on December 15, 2003.
NCDEX is a nation-level, technology driven de-mutualized on-line commodity exchange with an independent Board of Directors and professionals not having any vested interest in commodity markets. It is committed to provide a world-class commodity exchange platform for market participants to trade in a wide spectrum of commodity derivatives driven by best global practices, professionalism and transparency.
NCDEX is regulated by Forward Market Commission in respect of futures trading in commodities. Besides, NCDEX is subjected to various laws of the land like the Companies Act, Stamp Act, Contracts Act, Forward Commission (Regulation) Act and various other legislations, which impinge on its working.
NCDEX is located in Mumbai and offers facilities to its members in more than 550 centres throughout India. The reach will gradually be expanded to more centres.
NCDEX currently facilitates trading of 45 commodities - Cashew, Castor Seed, Chana, Chilli, Coffee - Arabica, Coffee - Robusta, Common Parboiled Rice, Common Raw Rice, Cotton Seed Oilcake, Crude Palm Oil, Expeller Mustard Oil, Groundnut (in shell), Groundnut Expeller Oil, Grade A Parboiled Rice, Grade A Raw Rice, Guar gum, Guar Seeds, Gur, Jeera, Jute sacking bags, Indian 28 mm Cotton , Indian 31 mm Cotton , Lemon Tur, Maharashtra Lal Tur, Masoor Grain Bold, Medium Staple Cotton, Mentha Oil , Mulberry Green Cocoons , Mulberry Raw Silk , Rapeseed - Mustard Seed, Pepper, Raw Jute, RBD Palmolein, Refined Soy Oil , Rubber, Sesame Seeds, Soy Bean, Sponge Iron, Sugar, Turmeric, Urad (Black Matpe), V-797 Kapas, Wheat, Yellow Peas, Yellow Red Maize, Yellow Soybean Meal, Electrolytic Copper Cathode, Mild Steel Ingots, Sponge Iron, Gold, Silver, Brent Crude Oil, Furnace Oil. At subsequent phases trading in more commodities would be facilitated.
3.National Multi Commodity Exchange (NMCE)
In response to the Press Note issued by the Government of India during May'1999, first state-of-the-art demutualised multi-commodity Exchange, National Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. (NMCE) was promoted by commodity-relevant public institutions, viz., Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), Gujarat Agro-Industries Corporation Limited (GAICL), Gujarat State Agricultural Marketing Board (GSAMB), National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), and Neptune Overseas Limited (NOL). While various integral aspects of commodity economy, viz., warehousing, cooperatives, private and public sector marketing of agricultural commodities, research and training were adequately addressed in structuring the Exchange, finance was still a vital missing link. Punjab National Bank (PNB) took equity of the Exchange to establish that linkage. Even today, NMCE is the only Exchange in India to have such investment and technical support from the commodity relevant institutions. These institutions are represented on the Board of Directors of the Exchange and also on various committees set up by the Exchange to ensure good corporate governance. Some of them have also lent their personnel to provide technical support to the Exchange management. The day-to-day operations of the Exchange are managed by the experienced and qualified professionals with impeccable integrity and expertise. None of them have any trading interest. The structure of NMCE is impossible to replicate in India.
NMCE is unique in many other respects. It is a zero-debt company; following widely accepted prudent accounting and auditing practices. It has robust delivery mechanism making it the most suitable for the participants in the physical commodity markets. The exchange does not compromise on its delivery provisions to attract speculative volume. Public interest rather than commercial interest guide the functioning of the Exchange. It has also established fair and transparent rule-based procedures and demonstrated total commitment towards eliminating any conflicts of interest. It is the only Commodity Exchange in the world to have received ISO 9001:2000 certification from British Standard Institutions (BSI).
NMCE commenced futures trading in 24 commodities on 26th November, 2002 on a national scale and the basket of commodities has grown substantially since then to include cash crops, food grains, plantations, spices, oil seeds, metals & bullion among others. Research Desk of NMCE is constantly in the process of identifying the hedging needs of the commodity economy and the basket of products is likely to grow even further. NMCE has also made immense contribution in raising awareness about and catalyzing implementation of policy reforms in the commodity sector. NMCE was the first Exchange to take up the issue of differential treatment of speculative loss. It was also the first Exchange to enroll participation of high net-worth corporate securities brokers in commodity derivatives market. It was the Exchange, which showed a way to introduce warehouse receipt system within existing legal and regulatory framework. It was the first Exchange to complete the contractual groundwork for dematerialization of the warehouse receipts. Innovation is the way of life at NMCE.
A Close Look At NMCE:
NMCE facilitates electronic derivatives trading through robust and tested trading platform, Derivative Trading Settlement System (DTSS), provided by CMC.
When an order is placed on the exchange, the server at NMCE scans through the orders posted on it from all its trading terminals. It then locates and matches the best counter-offers/bids by maintaining anonymity of the counter-parties. Anonymity helps is eliminating formation of cartels and other unfair practices, thereby protecting the efficiency of price-discovery at the Exchange. NMCE was the first commodity exchange to provide trading facility through internet, through Virtual Private Network (VPN).
NMCE follows best international risk management practices. The contracts are marked to market on daily basis. The system of upfront margining based on Value at Risk is followed to ensure financial security of the market. In the event of high volatility in the prices, special intra-day clearing and settlement is held. NMCE has also set up a Trade Guarantee Fund. Well-capitalized in-house clearinghouse assumes counter-party risk of settlement. NMCE was the first to initiate process of dematerialization and electronic transfer of warehoused commodity stocks. The unique strength of NMCE is its settlements via a Delivery Backed System, an imperative in the commodity trading business. These deliveries are executed through a sound and reliable Warehouse Receipt System, leading to guaranteed clearing and settlement.
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