Commexes’ Q1 turnover touches Rs 16 lakh cr mark, up 15.84%

NEW DELHI, July 12: The turnover of commodity exchanges came in at Rs 16.55 lakh crore, up 15.84 per cent, in the first quarter of 2015-16 on higher volumes in energy and farm items, said Forward Markets Commission (FMC).

These exchanges had made a business of Rs 14.55 lakh crore in April-June of the past fiscal, the regulator said in a statement.

Much of the trade volume came from energy, followed by agricultural commodities and metals. However, gold and silver hit a soft patch.

According to the FMC data, the turnover from crude oil rose over 51 per cent to Rs 4.81 lakh crore in the June quarter from a year ago period.

Similarly, the business from agricultural commodities like chana went up about 19 per cent to Rs 3.57 lakh crore, while for metals like copper, it jumped 15.52 per cent to Rs 3.61 lakh crore in the period under the review.

But the turnover from bullion fell 7.24 per cent to Rs 4.85 lakh crore in the first quarter compared with Rs 5.23 lakh crore in the year-ago period.

FMC also said it has reduced the trading time of the evening session in agri-commodities by two hours, effective July 13.

The trading time for farm commodities in the evening session would end at 9 pm as against 11 pm earlier in normal days. The closing time during the US daylight saving period has been advanced to 9.30 pm from 11.35 pm earlier, it added.

Currently, there are three national commodity bourses — MCX, NCDEX and NMCE — and six regional bourses. (PTI)