Market crash pulls down commodities

Amidst concerns of liquidity crunch due to weak sentiments in stock markets across the globe, investors have started winding up their positions in commodities such as gold, silver and nickel.

Investors are selling off their positions in commodities market globally because of the liquidity crisis owing to weak stock market trends internationally, analysts said.

On domestic commodity bourses -- MCX and NCDEX -- almost all commodities are trading down, with severe selling pressure in bullion, base metals and even agri-commodities.

"The major sell-off was seen in gold and silver globally. Gold prices have come down to $850 per ounce on Tuesday. Panicked investors are reducing investments in commodities and diverting them into equity markets to leverage their positions," Karvy Comtrade's Research Head Harish G told PTI.

He said open interest in precious metals saw a sharp dip. On domestic front, a sharp sell-off was seen in gold and silver at MCX. However, after the recovery seen in stock markets, bullion prices calmed down.

"The participation from investors lowered on Tuesday after the sudden fall seen in gold as well as base metals. Investors are scared and are staying away from investment," Commodity brokerage firm SMC Investment Solutions and Services, managing director, D K Aggarwal said.

Although the impact of fall in equity markets is not that huge, the global sell-off has created a weak sentiment among commodity investors in the domestic market, he added.

Consequently, base metal contracts were also trading low. February contract of nickel fell by 3.51 per cent to Rs 1,056 per kg, zinc dipped by 2.64 per cent to Rs 88.35 per kg, copper fell by 1.74 per cent to Rs 268 per kg and lead slided by 1.20 per cent to Rs 99.15 per kg on Tuesday.

At NCDEX counter, February contract of soybean fell by 3.11 per cent to Rs 1,947 per quintal, RM seed was down by 0.43 per cent to Rs 478.60 for 20 kg and refined soy oil was down by 0.73 per cent to Rs 581.75 for 10 kg. The spot price of soy meal, the main input in poultry feed, was down at Rs 14,500 per quintal.

However, Religare Commodities analyst Somnath Dey said, "The stock market crash on commodities has not affected the markets much. The subdued condition that has currently prevailed will fade off soon after the Fed announces the interest rate cut..."

Analysts, however, stressed that commodities have a negative co-relation with equity market.