Nirendra Dev, Commodity Online

Stories by Nirendra Dev, Commodity Online

Poverty: Politics should interact with policy

Poverty: Politics should interact with policy

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2008

Redistribution of economic and political power, inclusion of rural areas and the rural poor in development, enhancing access to resources and employment in rural areas, focus on non-farm rural activities, education and training activities and agrarian reform continue to be important areas for public policy. In Asia in general, and in India in particular, poverty has a rural face. Rural development and poverty alleviation are thus two sides of the same coin.

Who sets global crude oil prices?

Who sets global crude oil prices?

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2008

OPEC does not set global oil price

Gold? 10 things you MUST know

Gold? 10 things you MUST know

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2008

Why is gold attracting people? And why is it that people love to invest in gold?

Is futures trading a form of gambling?

Is futures trading a form of gambling?

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2008

Trading in commodity futures -- basically an arena of stock market players -- may have started with economic objectives such as price discovery and price risk management, but, of late, has become an important part of investment portfolio promising quick and attractive returns. In fact, stock marketing and futures trading are the main instruments of speculation in the capitalist economy in which the capital is invested and reinvested with a sole purpose of making a profit.

Global warming: Make sun the first accused!

Global warming: Make sun the first accused!

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2008

Brian Bloom, the author of Beyond Neanderthal, which looks broadly at the causes and impact of climate change, says that it could be a mistaken premise. C02 emissions may be exacerbating the global rise in temperatures rather than causing it.

China commodity futures grows 88%, India's 10%

China commodity futures grows 88%, India's 10%

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2008

China trading volumes rose due to active trading of farm products, including sugar, soybean, corn, zinc. Trading volume hit 5 trillion yuan ($714 billion), representing an increase of 88 per cent over the same period last year, according to figures released here by the China Futures Association.

Big players plan commodity exchanges in India

Big players plan commodity exchanges in India

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2008

The Indian government recently had banned futures trading in a few commodities. But this has not dampened major companies to eye futures trading in commodities. Last week, government permitted companies with an initial capital of Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) to set up commodity exchanges. Top officials in the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and Kotak Mahindra said that they are planning to set up commodity exchanges.

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.

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

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.

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.