Latest news with #Commodities
The Star
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Johari: Govt exploring ways to expand biodiesel use
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani BANTING: The government is looking to expand the use of biodiesel in the country in its efforts towards a more sustainable source of fuel, said Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. He said the national biodiesel program, which has been running since 2011, has stalled in terms of adopting a higher blend of palm biodiesel, citing capital expenditure and infrastructure constraints. "In 2019, Malaysia made B7 mandatory for the industrial sector and B10 for the logistics sector, but we have not moved to B20 since then because it requires significant capital expenditure of RM580 million. "So we are working on how to implement it, who should bear the subsidy, and we want to see what happens once it becomes B20 - how it will affect the diesel prices - all of that needs to be examined," he told reporters after launching the B30 Biodiesel pilot project at Guthrie's Golden Hope Academy in Carey Island today. As for today's event, SD Guthrie Bhd will fully transition to using B30 biodiesel for all its operational machinery and company vehicles that run on diesel at its plantation operations in Carey Island. B30 biodiesel, a blend of 30 per cent palm-based biodiesel and 70 per cent petroleum-based diesel, is a cleaner fuel and can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 23 per cent per litre compared to conventional diesel. He explained that if biodiesel usage can be widely implemented nationwide, there may be price adjustments for the commodity. However, Johari declined to elaborate on how it might affect the targeted fuel subsidies, saying it is still too early to disclose details. "The use of palm biodiesel offers clear environmental benefits. It not only helps reduce GHG emissions compared to traditional diesel, but it is also sulphur-free," he added. - Bernama
Khaleej Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: UAE security authority warns against dealing with unlicensed companies
The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) has warned the investing public against dealing with unlicensed entities in their latest advisory. The SCA has warned Dubai residents of three companies who are not licensed to conduct financial activities. In an official statement on its website, the SCA named three companies on July 17 — Sigma one capital, Sigma — wealth world financial, Sigma One Cap Marketing Services. "The SCA advises the investing public to refrain from dealing with these companies, as they are not licensed to conduct financial activities or provide services regulated by the SCA. Investors are strongly encouraged to verify the licensing status of any entity before engaging in any financial transactions. The SCA bears no responsibility for any transactions or dealings conducted with unlicensed companies," it said in the statement. The advisory was issued on the basis of the regulatory role of the SCA to ensure sound transactions and protect investors in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Law No. (4) Of 2000 concerning the Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority and Market and the regulations issued thereunder, and pursuant to the Chairman of the SCA Board of Directors' Decision No. (9/R.M) of 2017 concerning the Controls for Publishing Warnings. Last week, the SCA cautioned investors against dealing with certain entities and individuals falsely claiming to be Greenstone Equity Partners Financial Products Promotion LLC — an entity licensed by the SCA — and spoofing links from the company's website and misrepresenting them as legitimate. "The SCA urges all investors to verify the licensing status of any entity before engaging in any regulated activity. It bears no responsibility for any transactions conducted with such parties," it said.
The Print
7 days ago
- Business
- The Print
Gold declines Rs 200 to Rs 99,370/10 g; silver plunges Rs 3,000 to Rs 1.12 lakh/kg
Gold of 99.5 per cent purity slipped by Rs 200 to Rs 98,800 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) from the precious close of Rs 99,000 per 10 grams. The precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity had settled at Rs 99,570 per 10 grams on Monday. New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) Gold prices declined by Rs 200 to Rs 99,370 per 10 grams in the national capital on Tuesday due to fresh selling by stockists, according to the All India Sarafa Association. Silver prices plunged by Rs 3,000 to Rs 1,12,000 per kg (inclusive of all taxes) on Tuesday. The white metal had rallied by Rs 5,000 to hit a record high of Rs 1,15,000 per kg on Monday. 'Gold and silver witnessed sharp intraday volatility, rising initially but later retreated from their highs as the US Dollar index rebounded,' Rahul Kalantri, Vice-President of Commodities, Mehta Equities, said. Also, investors opted to book profits ahead of the crucial US inflation data to be released later in the day for more direction on the trajectory of bullion prices, Kalantri added. Meanwhile, spot gold rose by USD 20.62 or 0.62 per cent to USD 3,364.14 per ounce in the international markets. 'Gold remains range-bound despite elevated geopolitical and trade tensions. Safe-haven demand has picked up modestly after President Donald Trump's 30 per cent tariff announcement on imports from Mexico and the EU, though hopes for negotiations have limited sharp gains,' Chintan Mehta, Chief Executive Officer, Abans Financial Services, said. PTI HG HG MR This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Platinum Was The Top Performing Commodity In H1
Platinum bars 1000 grams pure platinum,business investment and wealth of platinum,3d ... More rendering Every year around this time, we update our Periodic Table of Commodities Returns to reflect the performance of raw materials in the first six months of the year. I'm biased, but few tools do a better job of providing a clear, interactive snapshot of the commodities landscape than ours. Precious metals dominated in H1. As you can see in the chart below, the group—which includes gold, silver, platinum and palladium—absolutely crushed commodities as a whole, from industrial metals to energy and agricultural. Platinum soared nearly 50%, followed by gold (+26%), silver (+25%) and palladium (+21%). Meanwhile, copper had its own standout run, driven by rising industrial demand and geopolitical catalysts. Precious metals have been the star asset of 2025 Platinum Has Been the Year's Breakout Star After years of range-bound trading, platinum finally broke out in spectacular fashion. The metal surged from just over $900 an ounce in January to around $1,360 by the end of June, representing a 49.8% gain. In Q2 alone, it jumped 35.8%, closing the quarter at a price not seen since 2014. A major factor for the spike was constrained supply. Platinum supply has historically been price inelastic in the short term, according to the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC). Even as prices surged, production remained sluggish, leading to persistent market imbalances. At the same time, demand remained firm, spanning industrial applications, jewelry and its emerging role in green hydrogen technologies. Unlike its cousin palladium, which is heavily reliant on gasoline vehicle manufacturing, platinum benefits from a broader range of demand. It's used in diesel catalytic converters, fuel cells and more. And as the world moves toward decarbonization, platinum's future in hydrogen energy systems makes it increasingly strategic. Gold: Still the Ultimate Safe Haven Gold has always been a barometer of uncertainty, and in 2025, investors had plenty to be uncertain about. Geopolitical tensions flared again in the Middle East, with the Israel–Iran conflict intensifying. In April alone, gold hit five separate all-time highs. By the end of June, it had risen 25.9%, topping $3,300 per ounce. With central banks continuing to buy record amounts of bullion, especially in emerging markets, I believe the metal remains a clear beneficiary of macro concerns. Physically backed gold ETFs attracted a stunning $38 billion in inflows during the first half of the year, marking the strongest performance since the pandemic-fueled rally of H1 2020. North American investors led the charge, adding $21 billion. Trading volumes surged across the board, averaging $329 billion a day globally—a new record, according to the World Gold Council (WGC). Gold trading volumes hit a record in the first half of 2025 There's another trend at work: de-dollarization. Since the U.S. and its allies froze Russian central bank assets in 2022, many nations have grown increasingly wary of holding dollar-denominated reserves. Gold, by contrast, is seen as politically neutral, and central banks have responded by diversifying into the yellow metal at an unprecedented pace. Institutions bought more in the last four years than in the previous two decades combined. Silver's Dual Role as a Precious and Industrial Metal Silver's story is a little different, but no less compelling. It often rides gold's coattails, and in 2025, it's kept pace with the yellow metal, rising nearly 25% through June. Silver briefly surged above $37 in mid-June, levels not seen since 2011, before settling around $36. The white metal stands to benefit from its dual role as both a precious and industrial metal. Demand is rising in green energy applications, particularly solar panels and battery storage. As central bank gold demand continues to outpace silver, I believe silver is undervalued on a relative basis. A return to the historical gold-silver ratio (around 80) could send silver back toward its all-time high of $50 an ounce. Copper: The Metal of the Future Though not a precious metal, copper deserves an honorable mention. It finished the first half of the year up 16.2%, making it the best-performing base metal. What's driving copper's rally? A perfect storm of supply fears, strong demand from artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers, and political noise from Washington. President Donald Trump's surprise announcement of a 50% tariff on imported copper this month sent U.S. copper futures to record highs, adding fresh volatility to an already tight market. And with global supply struggling to keep pace with demand, copper's long-term fundamentals look incredibly strong. Data centers alone are projected to require 127,000 megawatts (MW) of power by 2029, up from 82,000 this year. Each megawatt of capacity needs about 27 metric tons of copper. And that's not even counting the metal's role in electric vehicles (EVs), grid modernization and semiconductors. Energy and Agriculture Were the Laggards Not all commodities shared in the rally. Several energy and agricultural materials ended the first half in the red. Even lithium, once the darling of the EV boom, fell nearly 19%—a reflection of softening battery demand and oversupply from key producers in China and South America. For contrarian investors, this could be an area to watch for opportunities in the second half of the year. Periodic Table of Commodities Returns Precious metals have proven their worth once again as reliable hedges against inflation and geopolitical concerns. Central banks and fiscal imbalances continue to support long-term demand, especially for gold and platinum. Industrial metals like copper are benefiting from secular shifts in technology and electrification. While energy and agriculture struggled, those sectors may offer attractive entry points for investors with a longer time horizon. As always, our interactive Periodic Table of Commodities Returns makes it easy to compare commodity performance across years and sectors.
The Star
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Johari to perform duties of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister
PUTRAJAYA: Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani will assume the duties and functions of the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, effective immediately. Chief Secretary to the Government and Cabinet Secretary Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, in a statement on Friday (July 11), said the matter was agreed upon by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and conveyed during the Cabinet meeting on July 9. On May 28, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad announced his resignation as Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, effective July 4. Nik Nazmi, 43, said he had done his best to implement key reforms since assuming the role of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister in December 2022, and later the restructured ministry. Among the notable achievements during his tenure were amendments to the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and enhanced transparency in the reporting of Environmental Impact Assessments. He also cited his failure to retain the vice-president post in the recent PKR election as one of the factors that influenced his decision to step down. - Bernama
