http://www.commodityonline.com/ India's largest commodity news portal en-us July 24, 2008, 10:53 pm Copyright: (C) 2007 Commodity Online India Limited. All Rights Reserved. http://www.commodityonline.com/images/commodity%20logo.jpg http://www.commodityonline.com/ 280 51 Visit CommodityOnline.com Is the global commodities boom fueled by speculation? Some like Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram says: Yes. Some others like investing legend Jim Rogers says: No. So who is right and who is wrong? 2008-07-24 http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/Is-speculation-fueling-commodities-boom-10657-3.html Which could be the hottest commodity that India s politicians trade? It is cash bundles of hard cash if the drama surrounding the just concluded vote of confidence that the nation witnessed in the Parliament is an indication. 2008-07-24 http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/Cash-Hottest-commodity-Indian-politicians-trade-10647-3.html Speculation apart demand supply fundamentals don't support lower prices of crude oil from the present levels. This means that the nation should find an alternative to heavily subsidising the fuel prices that would lead to large budgetary deficits. 2008-07-24 http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/Who-will-solve-the-oil-puzzle-10642-3.html Cotton farmers in the country will get the Indian variety of Bt Cotton from 2009 which they can reuse like any other variety. Central Institute for Cotton Research Nagpur is coming up with the desi version seeds. 2008-07-24 http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/Indian-Bt-Cotton-to-hit-market-soon--10648-3.html The OECD agricultural report and a report by Purdue economists have put the blame on high oil prices bio fuel policies and supply demand mismatch for global food inflation. Rising consumption of China India and speculation are not the causes. 2008-07-24 http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/Rising-crude-biofuel-causes-global-food-inflation-10656-3.html India s inflation rate based on the wholesale price index for the week ended July 12 has fallen to 11.89 percent from 11.91 percent the previous week. Finance Minister had clarified that inflation rally in recent weeks was due to external factors. 2008-07-24 http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/Inflation-falls-marginally-to-1189-10655-3.html The global jewelry market experienced a 21% decline in demand in the first quarter as compared to 2007. The 445 tonne number tallied by the World Gold Council represents the lowest level of bauble demand since 1993. 2008-07-24 http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/Biggest-plunge-in-global-jewellery-market-10653-3.html According to reports early monsoon rains caused price rise of common salt by Rs 10 per kg in Kanpur. Major salt producing states of Gujarat and Rajasthan have seen a decline in production due to weather vagaries. 2008-07-24 http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/Salt-prices-jump-tanneries-hit--10646-3.html Weak global trends along with lack of buying support pulled down gold prices by Rs 210 to Rs 12 830 per ten gram in India on Thursday. 2008-07-24 http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/Gold-falls-to-Rs-12-830-in-India--10652-3.html Vietnam s government said it planned to impose export duties on rice of up to $176 per tonne which would push its rice export prices up to a range of $800 to $1 300 depending on the grade. 2008-07-24 http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/Global-rice-prices-surge-on-Vietnams-export-duty-10645-3.html An Interagency Task Force on Commodity Markets chaired by Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in its preliminary assessment said that fundamental forces of demand and supply were responsible for crude oil price increases. 2008-07-24 http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/Demand-supply-forces-responsible-for-oil-rally-10650-3.html Contrary to exporters hope for 5 10 percent rise in basmati rice production experts declined the potential for growth as farmers are likely to concentrate with non premium crops. 2008-07-24 http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/Basmati-rice-output-rise-unlikely-Expert--10651-3.html