JEERA………THE FLAVORING AGENT

Jeera is a flavoring agent of Indian food as well as commodity market. In India, Jeera is grown during the rabi season. India is largest producer, consumer and exporter of jeera. The country produces around 2 lakh tonnes of jeera. It contributes about 70% in the total world production. Rajasthan and Gujarat contribute more than 90% of the total production.

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Production Scenario in India

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In the current season year 2009-10, Jeera production is expected higher by 10-15% as compared to last year. India, world’s largest jeera producer, is expected to have a production of about 27 lakh bags (of 60 kgs) in the current season year 2009-10. In India, arrival starts in February. The peak arrival season runs from March to April and continues till early May. Currently the daily arrivals are around 24000-27000 bags. So prices are trading with downtrend bias.

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Arrivals Pattern in Unjha Market (Daily average arrivals)

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February to April – 25,000 t o 35,000 bags

May to August – 4,000 to 8,000 bags

September to November – 6,000 to 8,000 bags

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Domestic Scenario

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Despite a bumper yield in the current season year 2009-10, jeera prices are expected to go up by Diwali due to stronger domestic and overseas demand over next few months and lower carryover stocks than last year. Carry-forward stocks are estimated to be around 30000 tonnes. After end of April and early May the arrival would s l o w d o w n .

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H o w e v e r , currently the daily arrival s have fallen from 30,000 bags a week back to 20,000 to 22,000 bags. Currently jeera prices are ruling in the range of Rs 11000-12000 but due to steep fall in the carryover stocks, higher domestic consumption and increased buying by traders for export, which would push prices higher from coming month. Jeera futures are trading in contango. The most active NCDEX April contract Jeera futures on NCDEX are trading in the range 11200-11400 and May futures quoting above Rs 11600.

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International Scenario

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Jeera prices also depend on the crop situation in Turkey, Iran and Syria. After India, Syria is the next biggest producer with an average production of 30, 000 tonnes. These countries influence the world jeera prices significantly. Countries like Turkey and Syria are expected to harvest their crop only by July and export demand would likely to shift to Turkey and Syria due to their competitive lower prices in world market. This may affect the movement of jeera prices at some content.

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Export of Jeera

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India exports about 140 countries including Singapore, Dubai, the US and Brazil. Last year, about five lakh bags were exported. Indian exports of Jeera declining on account of stiff competition from Turkey, Syria and Iran. They are capturing our export market by offering Jeera at lower prices and bulk of their production is reserved for export purpose. Jeera exports are expected to 14% decline to 42500 ton in April-February 2009-10 as compared to 49500 ton in 2008-09. In value term, it is expected to 8 % decline to Rs 47001.25 lacs in April-February 2009-10 as compared to Rs 51356.33 lacs ton in 2008-09.

Indian Stock Traders To Contend With Fewer Holidays in 2010 !

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Indian brokerages and traders would have to contend with fewer trading holidays in 2010, going by the list of weekdays on which the markets will remain closed in 2010.

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Moreover, they would have to put in longer hours this year owing to the decision of stock exchanges to increase the trading hours.

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In comparison to 2009, when there were 19 holidays throughout the year, the projected number of public holidays in 2010 has dropped to just 11, including the first day of the year.

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As per the official of Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), this is certainly not by design.

Eight holidays this year — including Dussehra, Guru Nanak’s birthday, Christmas, Independence Day — fall either on a Saturday or Sunday,” he said.

“It’s only that we have mentioned them on our holiday list.”

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According to SMC Capital’s Jagannadham Thunuguntla, the Securities and Exchange Board of India was already contemplating a cut in the number of holidays to align the Indian markets with other peers, where trading holidays are restricted to six-seven a year.

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“This year, coincidentally, this has fallen in place. Many festivals and events are on weekends. That’s why, if you notice, today has been declared a holiday as a consolation to us,” Thunuguntla told.

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The authorities at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) have not only increased the trading hours by 55 minutes but have also decided not to advance the opening bell this year .

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From Jan 4 onwards, trading will commence at 9 a.m., while the closing bell will ring at 3.30 p.m. in a move intended to woo foreign funds from other major Asian markets like Singapore and Hong Kong.

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Trading Hours of Bourses Extended by SEBI :)

Trading Hours of Bourses Extended by SEBI

Market regulator SEBI on Friday extended the trading hours of bourses by up to two-and-a-half hours from 9 am to 5 pm, a move that may help in bringing back the trade that was seen shifting to Singapore Stock Exchange.

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It has been decided to permit the stock exchanges to set their trading hours (in the cash and derivatives segments) subject to the condition that the trading hours are between 9 am and 5 pm,” SEBI said in a statement.

The new trading hours would now help integrate the Indian bourses with Singapore and other Asian markets in the morning hours, and the European market in the evening hours, said SMC Capitals Equity Head Jagannadham Thunuguntla.

“Some trade that had shifted to SGX Nifty (Indian Nifty traded in Singapore Stock Exchange) can now be brought back to the country,” he said.

The current market hours stand from 9.55 am to 3.30 pm.

In Singapore, trading sessions are held between 9 am to 12.30 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm (local time).

In addition, there is pre-open routine from 8.30 am to 9 am and pre-close routine from 5 pm to 5.06 pm.

Singapore is around two and a half hours ahead of India.

This would provide an opportunity to NSE to try and align their timings to that of a few Asian markets like the SGX since this exchange permits trading in Nifty.

With market regulator SEBI now allowing longer trading hours, it is now up to the bourses to decide on the duration and when to reset their trade timings.

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Thunuguntla said, “All stock exchanges are likely to go for the maximum possible trading hours as they have been demanding it to be extended to 9 am to 9 pm.”

He said there is a serious competition ongoing between Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange, and then there is the new competitor MCX-SX.

“I will be surprised if any bourse not utilises the full timing,” he added.

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India Crossed the $100 Billion Mark in FDI :)

Amidst of the global crisis, India crossed the $100 billion milestone in foreign direct investment (FDI)

Amidst of the global crisis, India crossed the $100 billion milestone in foreign direct investment (FDI) through equity confirming its rising profile as a safe and sound investment objective.

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However, 44% of the money came through Mauritius as investors wanted to take advantage of India’s double taxation avoidance treaty with the island nation.

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Moreover, the cumulative FDI inflows since 2000 and up to July 2009 amounted to $100.33 billion while the inflows in the first 4 months of the current fiscal were $10.49 billion and the other big investors included Singapore, the US, UK and the Netherlands.

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Additionally, it is said that FDI’s main impact comes from new technology, new managerial capabilities and new benchmarks in corporate functioning whereas India reached the $100 billion mark at a time when the global financial crisis has had a dampening impact on FDI flows which are expected to fall this year.

Further, it is said that the global FDI flows will decline by 30% in 2009 reviving only marginally during the next year.

Although declining, FDI flows to developing countries proved to be more flexible than other capital flows such as portfolio investment and bank lending, the main reasons being that FDI is more of a long term nature than capital flows.

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On the other hand, India’s services sector received 23% of the cumulative equity FDI inflows followed by computer software, hardware, telecommunication and real estate.

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India Moved Up in World’s Most Competitive Economies Ranking :)

On the strength of its energetic financial markets and a sound banking sector, India moved up one mark to the 49th spot in the World Economic Forum’s annual ranking of the world’s most competitive economies.

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However, according to ‘‘The Global Competitiveness Report 2009-10’‘, Switzerland took the top slot to topple the U.S. to the second position while the next 3 ranks were accounted for by Singapore, Sweden and Denmark to make up the top five among the 133 countries.

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However, the BRIC nations like, India, China and Brazil improved upon their position in the competitiveness index while Russia experienced a sharp drop.

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On the other hand, while India moved up one slot to 49 from 50 last year, China also upped its rank to 29 from 30 earlier while Brazil also moved up 8 places to 56 in the last ranking.

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However, Russia, lost ground and declined to the 63rd position from 51 last year.

Moreover, it is said that India”s cut throat performance continues to showcase a rather upturned development pattern and it precedes many advanced economies in terms of business sophistication and innovation capacity.

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Additionally, India also boasts active financial markets and a sound banking sector, supported by well-functioning institutions.

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However, taking the various parameters separately, India is ranked 16th in terms of its bustling financial markets, 25th in terms of a sound banking sector and has the 54th position for its well-functioning institutions.

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But on the other hand,as well, the country under performs on some of the basic determinants of competitiveness, namely health and primary education (101st), macroeconomic stability (96th)—though improving—and infrastructure (76th), the Global Competitiveness Report said.

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