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Sebi Considers Widening Institutional Participation in Commodity Derivatives Market
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is planning to expand institutional participation in the commodity derivatives market, according to its chief, Tuhin Kanta Pandey. The regulator aims to allow banks, insurers, and pension funds to trade in these markets, and is also examining a proposal to permit foreign portfolio investors to trade in non-cash settled non-agricultural commodity derivative contracts. This move is expected to bring in higher liquidity and make the market more attractive for hedging.
In a significant development, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is considering widening institutional participation in the commodity derivatives market. The regulator’s chief, Tuhin Kanta Pandey, announced this on Wednesday at an event hosted by the Multi-Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) in Mumbai. According to Pandey, Sebi will engage with the government to allow banks, insurers, and pension funds to trade in these markets. This move is expected to bring in higher liquidity and make the market more attractive for hedging. The decision comes as part of Sebi’s efforts to strengthen India’s commodity markets, which is high on its regulatory agenda.
Expanded Institutional Participation
Currently, large corporates, traders, importers, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) actively participate in the commodities market. However, institutional investors like mutual funds and alternative investment funds are increasingly recognizing metals as an asset class that improves risk-adjusted returns for investors. By allowing banks, insurers, and pension funds to trade in these markets, Sebi aims to tap into their vast resources and expertise, which is expected to deepen the market and provide more opportunities for hedging. Some of the key highlights of the proposed expansion include:
* Allowing banks, insurers, and pension funds to trade in commodity derivatives markets
* Permitting foreign portfolio investors to trade in non-cash settled non-agricultural commodity derivative contracts
* Constituting a committee to recommend measures for deepening the agricultural commodities segment
* Forming a working group for developing the non-agricultural commodity space, including metals
Deepening Agricultural Commodities Segment
Sebi has already constituted a committee to recommend measures for deepening the agricultural commodities segment. This committee will examine ways to improve the functioning of the agricultural commodities market, including measures to enhance liquidity, improve price discovery, and reduce volatility. The regulator is also planning to form a working group for developing the non-agricultural commodity space, including metals. This working group will examine ways to improve the functioning of the non-agricultural commodities market, including measures to enhance liquidity, improve price discovery, and reduce volatility.
Commodity-Specific Brokers
By December, Sebi will include commodity-specific brokers in the Samuhik Prativedan Manch, a common reporting mechanism for compliance reports. This move is expected to improve the reporting and compliance framework for commodity brokers, which will help to enhance the integrity of the market. According to Pandey, “Strengthening India’s commodity markets is high on Sebi’s regulatory agenda. Enhanced institutional participation will bring in higher liquidity, making the market more attractive for hedging.”
Benefits of Expanded Institutional Participation
The expansion of institutional participation in the commodity derivatives market is expected to have several benefits, including:
* Higher liquidity: The participation of banks, insurers, and pension funds is expected to bring in more liquidity to the market, making it more attractive for hedging.
* Improved price discovery: The participation of institutional investors is expected to improve price discovery, as they will bring in more sophisticated pricing models and risk management techniques.
* Reduced volatility: The participation of institutional investors is expected to reduce volatility, as they will help to stabilize the market through their buying and selling activities.
* Increased transparency: The participation of institutional investors is expected to increase transparency, as they will be required to disclose their positions and trading activities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sebi’s decision to expand institutional participation in the commodity derivatives market is a significant development that is expected to have far-reaching benefits for the market. The participation of banks, insurers, and pension funds is expected to bring in higher liquidity, improve price discovery, and reduce volatility. The regulator’s efforts to strengthen India’s commodity markets are ongoing, and this move is an important step in that direction. As Pandey said, “Enhanced institutional participation will bring in higher liquidity, making the market more attractive for hedging.”
Keywords: Sebi, commodity derivatives market, institutional participation, banks, insurers, pension funds, foreign portfolio investors, non-cash settled non-agricultural commodity derivative contracts, Samuhik Prativedan Manch, commodity-specific brokers, agricultural commodities segment, non-agricultural commodity space, metals, liquidity, price discovery, volatility, transparency.
Hashtags: #Sebi #CommodityDerivativesMarket #InstitutionalParticipation #Banks #Insurers #PensionFunds #ForeignPortfolioInvestors #NonCashSettledNonAgriculturalCommodityDerivativeContracts #SamuhikPrativedanManch #CommoditySpecificBrokers #AgriculturalCommoditiesSegment #NonAgriculturalCommoditySpace #Metals #Liquidity #PriceDiscovery #Volatility #Transparency.
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