Cotton hit by demand dip.
Byline: NIDHI SHARMA MUMBAI : Firm international cotton prices have provided support to the domestic market, with spot prices of Shanker 6 variety increasing from Rs 18,500 per candy to Rs 20,500 levels in a month. Good weather and expectations are likely to bring down prices. ...

FMC lowers penalty for failing to keep delivery vow.
MUMBAI: Commodity market regulator Forward Markets Commission (FMC) has decided to lower the penalty for failing to meet delivery obligation on futures contract. A high penalty was distorting the trading on the last date when contracts mature. The penalty structure encouraged buyers to remain in position, hoping...

India's Nov cotton exports to China seen at 1m bales.
MUMBAI: Indian traders are likely to export over 1 million bales of cotton to China in November to meet the exports commitments, keeping the prices firm, traders and industry officials said. China, as part of its commitment of a member of the World Trade Organisation, issues quotas...

Delist illiquid contracts as last resort: Khatua.
Byline: NIDHI SHARMA MUMBAI: Forward Markets Commission new chairman B C Khatua favours reviving illiquid futures contracts on the commodity exchanges. According to him, these contracts should be delisted only if measures to activate them fail. This comes against the backdrop of a recent debate...

The silver lining beneath.
Byline: Abhiram Ghadyalpatil There's spring in Vidarbha,where once there was drought and despair. It's beginning to feel good. Real good. So what does this revolution hold for the future of cotton trade and GM crops in India? By March, the stats on the country's annual...

Bumper crop unlikely to end cotton growers' woes.
Byline: Abhiram Ghadyalpatil MUMBAI: The prospects of a bumper cotton yield in Maharashtra in the 2006-07 season may not provide a solution to the agrarian crisis in cotton growing areas of the state. Government officials implementing a special relief package on farmers' suicides in Vidarbha have pointed...

Scanty rainfall lowers red chilli output by 50%.
Byline: Tapash Talukdar RAJKOT: Inadequate rainfall, coupled with the fact that a large number of farmers have turned towards cotton farming, has resulted in about 50% lower production of red chilli this year. Gondal, the biggest market in Gujarat for red chilli is witnessing low...

Cotton blooms on high yield.
Byline: Nidhi Sharma MUMBAI: The East India Cotton Association (EICA) has revised domestic cotton production estimates to 282 lakh bales (1 bale = 170 kg) for cotton year October 2006-September 2007, against the earlier estimate of 270 lakh bales. Cotton exports are expected to touch 55 lakh...

Giant traders' interest in essential commodities may send prices soaring.
Byline: Nidhi Nath Srinivas NEW DELHI: Giant index funds and swap dealers are looming so large over the international markets for food, beverages and fibre that the US government has begun disclosing their trading positions separately to other market players every week. This move confirms...

Re wrought percolates down textile sector.
Byline: K G Narendranath MUMBAI: Last week, ET reported that the rise of rupee against the US dollar is forcing textile companies to cut jobs. In fact, the fear of likely large-scale loss of jobs comes on the heels of a recent industry estimate which saw a...