Thursday, November 8, 2007

Basic Guide to Commodities Trading!!

If you're new to the world of commodity trading, fear not, because using the platform in India is not beyond anyone's grasp or capability -- it's only a matter of making a beginning somewhere.

If you want to clarify some basic doubts but were afraid to ask, here's your chance to catch up on lost time. Below are some answers to some frequently popped questions.

The basic difference between the commodity exchange and stock exchange is that in a commodity exchange, actual physical products that are non-financial in nature are traded.

These include agricultural products such as wheat, castor, groundnut or sesame and industrial products such as aluminum, zinc, nickel and also precious metals like gold and silver.

In comparison, a stock exchange offers all financial products such as stocks, indexes, interest rate, and government securities.

  • Trading in any contract month will open on the 21st day of the month, 3 months prior to the contract month. For example, the December 2004 contract opens on 21st September 2004.
  • In commodities, the 20th day of the delivery month would be the due date. If the 20th happens to be a holiday then the due date would be the previous working day.
  • Typically, the margins for trading vary from commodity to commodity. For a more liquid commodity like gold or silver the initial margin and the exposure margin would be typically 4 per cent each. However, in other commodities the margins could vary depending on volatility of the commodity prices.
  • The pay-in (T+1) will be on or before 11.00 a.m., payout on or after 12.00 noon.
  • All contracts settling in cash would be settled on the following day after the contract expiry date.
  • Deliveries are not compulsory. The buyer and the seller would have to express their intentions while to give or take delivery entering the contract. The exchange would match the deliveries at the client level. Contracts that are not assigned delivery are settled in cash.
  • In case of physical delivery, a receipt from the warehouse where the goods are stored is issued in favour of the buyer, which is transferable. On producing this receipt the buyer can take the commodity from the warehouse.
  • Where settlements go, for open positions at the beginning of the tendering period of the contract the buyer and the seller can give intentions for delivery.
Intentions for delivery could be given right until the final day on which that the contract expires. Delivery would take place in electronic form (in the national level exchanges). All other positions would be settled in cash.
  • Any buyer would have to put in a request to take physical delivery to its depository participant, who would pass on the same to the warehouse manager. On a specified date, the buyer would have to go to the warehouse and pick up the physical delivery.
  • The seller intending to make delivery would have to take the commodity to the designated warehouse. These commodities would have to be certified by an exchange-specified assayer.
The commodity that is meant for delivery would have to meet the contract specifications with a certain allowance for variances. If the commodity meets the specifications, the warehouse would accept it.

Warehouses would further ensure that the receipt is updated in the depository system, giving the due credit in the electronic account.

Also, every client who would want to give or take delivery would have to get registered as per the prevalent sales tax rates in his or her state.

Armed with the basic information, any trader should be ready to take the leap!

Are you new to Commodities Trading?

Why Commodities
  • Investors looking for a fast-paced dynamic market with excellent liquidity can now trade in Commodity Futures Market.
  • Commodity is an asset class that is negatively correlated to equity markets & this feature helps in providing diversification to one’s portfolio.
  • Commodities tend to be less volatile than equities & the margins to be paid upfront are lower than in equity F & O Markets. This gives the trader/investor more Leverage & better risk-adjusted returns.
  • Hedging: Mitigate your risk of commodity price fluctuations.
  • Arbitrage Opportunities: Take the advantage of price spreads, calendar spreads.
  • Prices are pegged to International Markets of NYMEX, CBOT, CME, LME.
National Level Commodity Exchanges In India Offering Trading Facilities In Multiple Commodities.

National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (www.ncdex.com)
Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. (www.mcxindia.com)

Intra Day Fluctuations In Commodities Market
All major international commodity markets have an impact on the price fluctuations of Indian Commodities market. The timings of the same is as mentioned below.

Tokyo: 5:00am – 10:30am
Hong Kong: 6:30am – 12noon
Singapore: 8:00am – 1pm
London Metal Exchange: 1:50pm – 10:00pm
New York Mercantile Exchange: 5:50pm – 11:30pm
India (MCX & NCDEX – Metals& Energy): 10:00am – 11:30pm
India (MCX & NCDEX – AGRI): 10:00am – 5:00pm

How Is Commodity Derivatives Market Different From Equity Derivatives Market

Underlying Asset
Commodity Derivative:The underlying is a commodity.
Equity Derivative:The underlying is equity

Research
Commodity Derivative:Research is global. It requires study of macroeconomics of world economies & demand supply situations.
Equity Derivative:Research requires study of Balance Sheets, P/E Ratios etc

Trading Hrs.
Commodity Derivative:10am to 11:30pm
Equity Derivative:10am to 3:30pm

Settlement
Commodity Derivative:Cash or Delivery based settlement.
Equity Derivative:Cash Settled

Volatility
Commodity Derivative:Low
Equity Derivative:High

Leverage
Commodity Derivative:High
Equity Derivative:Low

Demat A/c
Commodity Derivative:Required only for deliveries.
Equity Derivative:Mandatory

Initial Margin
Commodity Derivative:5 to 10% of the contract value.
Equity Derivative:Approx. 25% of the contract value.

Price Movement
Commodity Derivative:Purely based on demand & supply.
Equity Derivative:Based on expectation of future performance.

Which Commodities Are Available For Trading

Precious Metals Gold, Silver
Base Metals Steel, Copper, Aluminum, Zinc.
Energy Crude Oil, Brent Crude Oil, Furnace Oil.
Cereals & Pulses Wheat, Rice, Chana, Urad, Tur, Guar, Guargum, Soyabean
Condiments Sugar
Cash Crops Cotton, Jute
Oil Complex Castor, Soya, Mustard, Mentha Oil
Spices Chili, Turmeric, Jeera, Pepper

Commodity Margins & Lot Sizes
The margin ranges between 5% to 10 % of the contract value.

However the change in value of commodity from the price at which you made the Purchase/sale with reference to the daily settlement price reflecting a proportionate Gain or loss. The loss, if any has to be paid up as Mark to Market Margin

Commodity Lot Size Margin (Rs.)
Gold 1Kg 70,000
Silver 30Kg 50,000
Gold Mini 100gms 25,000
Silver Mini 5Kg 25,000
Copper 1MT 40,000
Crude Oil 100 Barrels 25,000
Soyabean 10MT 10,000
Urad 10MT 35,000
Chana 10MT 20,000
Sugar 10MT 20,000
Jeera 3MT 25,000

Return on Investment

Commodity Average Intra Day Movement Return (Rs.)
Gold Rs. 60 – Rs. 100 Rs. 100 / 1 Rupee Movement
Silver Rs. 100 – Rs. 300 Rs. 30 / 1 Rupee Movement
Crude Oil Rs. 30 – Rs. 60 Rs.100 / 1 Rupee Movement
Urad / Chana Rs. 40 – Rs. 60 Rs. 100 / 1 Rupee Movement
Sugar Rs. 15 – Rs. 25 Rs. 100 / 1 Rupee Movement
Mentha Oil Rs. 10 – Rs. 30 Rs. 360 / 1 Rupee Movement
Copper Rs. 3 – Rs. 8 Rs. 1000 / 1 Rupee Movement
Zinc Rs. 2 – Rs. 5 Rs. 5000 / 1 Rupee Movement