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What is a Commodity?

A commodity may be defined as an article, a product or material that is bought and sold. It can be classified as every kind of movable property, except Actionable Claims, Money & Securities.

What is Commodity Exchange?

Commodity Exchange is a common platform or institution, where market participants from varied spheres trade in a wide spectrum of commodity derivatives, just as how stock markets provide space for trading in equities and their derivatives.

Which is the regulatory body for commodities trading?

The Forward Markets Commission (FMC) is the regulatory body for commodity futures / forward trade in India. You can mail them at fmc@bom5.vsnl.nic.in and visit their website at www.fmc.gov.in.

Who invests in commodities?

Investors. Producers / Farmers. Importers / Exporters. Commodity financers. Agricultural credit providing agencies. Hedgers, speculators, arbitrageurs. Large scale consumers. For e.g. refiners, jewelers, textile mills. Corporate having risk exposure in commodities.

How to start trading in Commodities?

To trade in commodities, you need to: Open a trading account with Bonanza Commodity Brokers Pvt. Ltd. Complete required KYC norms. There are various ways of opening a commodity trading account with Bonanza Commodity: For further queries or information to open an account with us, write to us at

What are the trading hours?

Normal trading hours for Commodity market is from 10:00 am to 11:30 / 11:55 pm. However, Agri Commodity allows trade till 5:00 pm only. While the rest (Metals / Energy / Bullions & Steel) will open for trade from 10:00 am to 11:30/11:50 pm.

What is a Commodity Demat Account? Why it is required?

In a Commodity Demat account, commodities are kept in electronic form just like equity. A Commodity Demat account is necessary for receiving / tendering delivery.

Is a Demat account compulsory for Commodity Trading?

No, till now it’s not compulsory to open a Demat account.

Can my Equity Demat Account be used for Commodities?

No, you can not use your Equity Demat account in Commodities and vice-versa. You have to open a separate Demat Account with CDSL & NSDL.

Is it is necessary to open account with both CDSL and NSDL?

Account need to be open with both CDSL and NSDL because Inter-depository transfer is not allowed in commodities.

Who are eligible for opening a commodity trading account?

Any individual, Hindu undivided family (HUF), proprietary firm, partnership firm or a company can open a commodity trading account.

Can a NRI, Mutual Fund Bank (MFB) or Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) trade in commodities in India?

Till now NRI’s, MFB’s and FII’s as well as Hedge Funds, Insurers, Momentum Funds, etc – no one is allowed to trade in commodities in India but in the future, the entry of these big players will lead the Commodity market to new heights.

Is it an advantage to trade in National level exchanges against Regional exchanges?

It is always advisable to trade on national level of exchanges as it has unique features.

What is the difference between Spot and Future price?

Spot price is the price in the cash market (where one buys and sells goods ‘on the spot’ just as we make purchases from a shop by paying cash) while future prices are prices of the same commodity at a future date which is generally traded through exchange platforms.

Is it possible for one to give / take delivery through future market?

Yes, it is possible.

Is physical delivery compulsory?

No, delivery is optional. It is only when the seller puts in the intention to deliver that delivery takes place. Otherwise all contracts are cash settled or contracts are pre-specified about delivery nature for a particular Commodity.

What is the delivery procedure?

The details of delivery procedure for each commodity are available with the contract specifications of each commodity.

What is Futures Contract?

A derivative instrument, Futures is a type of forward contract. Futures are contracts to sell / buy standardized financial instruments or commodities on a specified future date at an agreed price. Futures contracts are used generally for protecting against adverse price fluctuation.

How is Future Prices Determined?

Futures prices evolve from the interaction of bids and offers emanating from all over the country – which converge in the trading floor or the trading engine.

What are Margins?

The aim of margin money is to minimize the risk of default by either counter party. The Exchanges fix rates of ordinary / initial margin keeping in view need to balance high security of contract and low cost of entering into contract.

What is the difference between Equity Futures and Commodity Futures?

In equity futures the underlying asset is the equity share of any company whereas in commodity futures the underlying asset is the commodity itself.

What are the charges to trade in Commodity Futures?

As of today, the charges to trade in Commodity Futures include Stamp Duty, Turn Over Charges and Service Tax.

Is options trading in commodities allowed?

No, options trading in commodities are not allowed yet but in future it might be introduced.

How would the contracts be settled?

All open contracts not intended for delivery and non deliverable positions at client level would be cash settled.

Can one short sell the commodity without having physical goods / holdings in their Demat account?

Yes, as this is the Derivatives contract, you can short sell without having possession of that commodity.

Is there any limit to which price of a commodity can rise or fall in a day?

Yes, there are circuit limits or daily price range (DPR) to safeguard the interests of general investors from the extreme volatilities in markets for preventing any unexpected fall or rise beyond a limit.

Is there any limit to the quantity I can trade / hold in any given commodity at any point of time?

Yes, there is a maximum permissible limit on holding a particular commodity for client as well as member. It varies from commodity to commodity and exchange to exchange.

Will I receive trade confirmation?

Yes, you will receive contract notes for your trades. Further, your dealer / relationship manager will update you accordingly.

How do I know which quality is being traded in futures as Commodities have many qualities?

The quality specification of each commodity is mentioned in the contract before it is launched, so it is always advisable to go through the details as given by exchanges.

Is Sales Tax applicable on all trades?

If the trade is squared off sales tax is not applicable. Sales tax is applicable only if a trade results into delivery for the seller.

What is collateral?

In case of broking business, collateral is any permissible financial instrument pledged as a guarantee for margin requirements.

Can I trade in international exchanges?

FMC does not allow trading in the International Exchanges hence we are not providing this service as of now. As and when the regulators permit we will provide the service (Note: Bonanza is also a Member of DGCX (Dubai Gold & Commodity Exchange)

What is a spread position?

Going long and short consecutively in two different contracts of the same commodity is known as a spread position.

What is tick size?

Gold has tick size of Rs. 1 this means you have to increase / decrease the bid / ask price by at least Rs. 1. Hence, the minimum price movement of any contract is known as the tick size.

I do not want to give/take physical Delivery; will I be allowed to Trade incommodities?

Yes, you can trade in commodities even without having obligation/liability of give/take physical delivery. The only condition is that that you will have to Square off your trade before the Expiry of the contract.