• 26 May 2009 at 12:56 PM

Sugar So Sweet

Sarad Pawar_PIB.jpgHaving set the clear example that markets are to blame for the evils of commodity price inflation, the United States is beginning to find companions in the membership list of the Market Lockdown Club.

India banned futures trading in sugar, a day after Farm Minister Sharad Pawar said the government may extend a program allowing duty-free imports of raw sugar to bolster local supplies.
The ban will remain until Dec. 31, Forward Markets Commission spokesman Anupam Mishra said today, without giving a reason for the move. While existing contracts will remain valid, new contracts won’t be allowed, he said in a telephone interview today from Mumbai.
Sugar prices have risen 3 percent on Mumbai’s National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange since April 20, when N. Sanyal, joint secretary at the food ministry, said futures trading may be halted if prices continue to rise. The increase in prices is not related to futures trading, analyst Amol Tilak said.

They love free markets. Except when they don’t.
India Bans Sugar Futures Trade With Immediate Effect [Bloomberg]

Comments (9)

  1. Posted by guest | May 26, 2009 at 1:11 PM

    “Sell, Pradesh,….. Selllll…..!!!!!”
    ~Nizam Duke
    Duke & Duke
    Mumbai, India

  2. Posted by guest | May 26, 2009 at 1:14 PM

    teeth

  3. Posted by guest | May 26, 2009 at 1:16 PM

    As per usual administrative protocol in India, implementation of this decree will take approximately 7 months and several exchanges of gifts to grease the wheels.

  4. Posted by guest | May 26, 2009 at 1:44 PM

    First you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women…
    - Homer

  5. Posted by guest | May 26, 2009 at 2:11 PM

    … and then Anupam, tears forming in his eyes, picked up his toys and walked away… the boys in the futures group looked at one another and quietly agreed, “the hiding of his dentures was one step too far”.

  6. Posted by guest | May 26, 2009 at 2:16 PM

    … and then Anupam, tears forming in his eyes, picked up his toys and walked away… the boys in the futures group looked at one another and quietly agreed, “the hiding of his dentures was one step too far”.

  7. Posted by guest | May 26, 2009 at 2:30 PM

    Cinco y Seis FTW!
    -TGFHouston

  8. Posted by guest | May 26, 2009 at 4:19 PM

    I’m glad that those evil commodities traders will not be able to manipulate another market. Look what they’ve done to oil, it went down from $140 to $38 in only a few months! Thank god that India finally has its head on straight.
    -T. Boone

  9. Posted by sugardaddy | May 26, 2009 at 4:31 PM

    What is the Rupee/USD rate? I need to hedge my book

Leave a comment

You can log in with your account or comment as a guest below.