GOLD

HEDGING PRICE RISK

The most sought-after precious metal is acquired throughout the world for its beauty, liquidity, investment qualities, and industrial properties

GOLD: HEDGING PRICE RISK

One of the oldest civilisations known to man,

the Sumerians of Mesopotamia, who lived in
what is modern-day Iran and Iraq, first used
gold as sacred, ornamental, and decorative
instruments in the fifth millennium B.C.
Around the same period, the early Egyptians
the richest gold-producing civilisation of the
ancient world began the art of gold
refining. Like the Sumerians, the Egyptians
used gold primarily for personal adornment,
rather than for monetary purposes, although
the kings of the fourth to sixth dynasties (c.
2700-2270 B.C.) did issue some gold coins.
The first large-scale, private issuance of pure
gold coins was under King Croesus (560-546
B.C.), the ruler of ancient Lydia, modern-day
western Turkey. Stamped with his royal
emblem of the facing heads of a lion and a
bull, these first known coins eventually became
the standard of exchange for worldwide trade
and commerce.
OVERVIEW
Gold, the most sought-after of all
precious metals, is acquired throughout
the world for its beauty, liquidity,
investment qualities, and industrial
properties. As an investment vehicle,
gold is typically viewed as a financial
asset that maintains its value and
purchasing power during inflationary
periods. However, globalization has
increased volatility across asset classes
which can be dealt with using various
risk management instruments.

and consolidate competitiveness. The

importance of risk management cannot
be overstated; India, the worlds largest
market for gold jewellery and a key
driver of global gold demand needs
such financial instruments like futures to
get its bullion industry protected from
price risk. The role of commodity futures
in risk management consists of
anticipating price movement and
shaping resource allocations and
achieving these ends can be met
through hedging.

PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT

Risk management techniques are of
critical importance for participants, such
as mining companies, processors,
companies dealing in gold and gold
products,
jewellers
and
even
governments which rely on the
proceeds of bullion consumption and
trade.
Modern
techniques
and
strategies, including market-based risk
management financial instruments,
such as Gold Futures, offered on the
MCX platform can improve efficiencies

PRICE MOVEMENT
2,000

40,000
Fear of tapering of stimulus
measures by Fed in US

Rising geopolitical tension

over Syria, Weakeness of INR

35,000
Supply Tightbness

1,500

Iraq Violence

30,000
1,000

Fear of early tapering

25,000

20,000
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20

20

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MCX (`/10 grams)

CME Parity (`/10 grams) Incl of
Custom Duty, Cess
CME ($/Troy Ounce)

GOLD: HEDGING PRICE RISK

HEDGING MECHANISM
Hedging is the process of reducing or
controlling risk. It involves taking equal
and opposite positions in two different
markets (such as physical and futures
market), with the objective of reducing
or limiting risks associated with price
change. It is a two-step process where a
gain or loss in the physical position due
to changes in price will be offset by
changes in the value on the futures
platform, thereby reducing or limiting
risks associated with unpredictable
changes in prices.
In the international arena, hedging in
gold futures takes place on a number of
exchanges, the major ones being
Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME),
Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd
(MCX), Tokyo Commodity Exchange
(TOCOM) and Shanghai Futures
Exchange(SHFE).
IMPORTANCE OF HEDGING
Critical for stabilizing incomes of
corporations and individuals, reducing
risks may not always improve earnings,
but failure to manage risk will have
direct repercussion on the risk-bearers
long-term income.
To gain the most from hedging, it is
essential to identify and understand the
objectives behind hedging.
A good hedging practice, hence,
encompasses efforts on the part of
companies to get a clear picture of their
risk profile and benefit from hedging
techniques.
PARTICIPANT HEDGERS
Those who have or intend to have
physical positions in physical GOLD.
! Corporations
! Mining companies
! Market intermediaries
! Merchandisers

! Jewellers and designers

! Importers and exporters

FACTORS IMPACTING PRICE

VARIATIONS IN BULLION
! Currency exchange rates movements,
especially USD
! Gold demand from major consumer
countries like India and China
! Gold supply: China, the U.S., and South
Africa
! Changes in import duties
! Economic factors: Employment and
housing data from major economies
! Interest rate movements
! Political turmoil
FACTS ON HEDGING
! Understanding the risk profile and
appetite while formulating clear
hedging objectives.
! Hedging can shield the revenue
stream, the profitability, and the
balance sheet against adverse price
movements.
! Hedging can maximize shareholder
value.
! Under
International
Financial
Reporting
Standards
(IFRS),
beneficial options arise in effective
hedges.
! Common avoidable mistake is to
book profits on the hedge while
leaving the physical leg open
to risk.
! Hedging provides differentiation to
companies in a highly competitive
environment.
! Hedging also significantly lowers
distress
costs
in
adverse
circumstances confronting a company.
! To gain the most from hedging, it is
very essential to identify and
understand the objectives behind
hedging and get a clear picture of
their risk profile.

HEDGING EXPERIENCES
1. Titan Industries Ltd
A leader in the Indian market for
branded Jewelry and also known for
their watches, the company uses
financial instruments to manage risks.
It applies hedging principles as set out
in the accounting standards (AS)30.
All derivative transactions are
governed by company policy based on
written principles on their use,
consistent with the companys risk
management strategy.... (Extract from
the 29th Annual Report of Titan
Industries Ltd).
2. Barrick Gold Corp
A US-based gold mining company is
the worlds largest producer, operating
mines and undertaking exploration on
five continents. With mining reserves
of 104 million ounces of gold, the
company produced 7.13 million ounces
in 2013 and has an exposure (cash flow
hedge) of $110 million. Their Chairman
Mr Peter Munk has this to say,
Traditionally, gold companies were
not involved in hedging, Barrick Gold
Corp did! And before long became the
most profitable gold company in the
world. (Source: Annual Report
2013.)
3. Kaloti Jewellery Group
The group trades and hedges hundreds
of tonnes of bullion annually.
(Source: Group brochure)
4. Signet Jewelers Ltd
Signet uses gold and currency hedges to
reduce its exposure to market volatility
in the cost of gold.... (Source: Annual
Report; largest jewellery retailer in the
U.S., the UK, and Canada)

GOLD FACTS
Gold has been a valuable and highly sought-after precious metal for coinage, jewellery, and other arts since
long, even before the beginning of recorded history. In the past, the Gold Standard had been implemented as a
monetary policy, but it was widely supplanted by fiat currency starting in the 1930s. The last gold certificate and
gold coin currencies were issued in the U.S. in 1932. In Europe, most countries left the gold standard with the
start of World War I in 1914 and, with huge war debts, did not return to gold as a medium of exchange. The value
of gold is rooted in its rarity, easy handling, easy smelting, non-corrosiveness, distinct colour and nonreactiveness to other elementsqualities most other metals lack....
3

GOLD: HEDGING PRICE RISK

APPRECIATING THE BENEFITS OF HEDGING

A situation prevailing in the gold industry is given below. It demonstrates how the MCX platform may be used by participants to
manage price risk by entering into Gold Futures contracts. We will look at the impact on price movements in either direction.

THE SITUATION
Gold BOX, a company in the jewellery design business, has been competing in the overseas market. Its designer jewellery has a steady but growing market. To
develop its market share the management has realized that it needs to price its designer products competitively. In the past, the company resorted to buying and
storing gold bars. This strategy led to many problems relating to raw-material procurement decisions, especially timing of decisions and storage concerns.
Although the highly experienced personnel have been astute in most decisions, the recent movements in gold prices caused by currency movements (Quantitative
Easing, interest rate movement in Europe, and import duty structure), have led to margins getting eroded. A consultant appointed by the management has
recommended that price risk should be mitigated by taking up positions on the MCX commodity exchange.

GOING LONG: Scenarios where prices either rise or fall

On 1st January, Gold BOX, a company in the jewellery design business, enters into a contract for delivery of finished designer jewellery after three months.
Based on experience, the company has put together the following facts and observations.
The selling price of finished product and gold content in these products cannot be altered
Raw material (gold bars) will be required for actual use in mid-March
Risk of change in gold prices is perceived
Estimated requirement or consumption is 80 kg per quarter
Going long means buying the futures contract
HOW CAN THIS GOLD BOX HEDGE AGAINST PRICE RISK?
We will look at both possibilities, that is, price rise and price fall. Lets take the situation when prices rise first.

SCENARIO 1

IF PRICES WERE TO RISE

(`/10 grams)

DETAILS

MCX PLATFORM

1st January

BUY Gold Futures Contract

15th March

SELL Gold Futures Contract

PHYSICAL MARKET

DATE

GOLD SPOT PRICE GOLD FUTURES PRICE

(expiry 5th April 201X)

BUY the required quantity of

gold in the physical market

01-01-201X

29186

27842

15-03-201X

30900

30202

The net position of the above transactions will negate price risk

Futures

01-01-201X

Spot

15-03-201X

27842

BUY

15-03-201X

30202

SELL

15-03-201X

BUY

2360 (profit)

30900
Net purchase price: `28540 (`30900 - `2360)

EXPLANATION
The treasury department of Gold BOX buys a futures contract on 1st January and squares up or sell the contract on the 15th of March thereby making a profit of `2,360 per
contract . They then buy in the spot market the required physical quantity at `30,900. The net cost works out to `28,540 for 10 g. The impact on the bottom line is
`51.6 lakh (`29186 - `28540 x 80 kg).

SCENARIO 2

IF PRICES WERE TO FALL

(`/10 grams)

DETAILS

MCX PLATFORM

1st January

BUY Gold Futures Contract

15th March

SELL Gold Futures Contract

PHYSICAL MARKET

DATE

GOLD SPOT PRICE GOLD FUTURES PRICE

(expiry 5th April 201X)

BUY the required quantity of

gold in the physical market

01-01-201X

29186

27842

15-03-201X

27900

27300

The net position of the above transactions will negate price risk

Futures

01-01-201X

Spot

15-03-201X

BUY

27842

15-03-201X

SELL

15-03-201X

BUY

EXPLANATION
The treasury department of Gold BOX buys a futures contract on 1st January and squares up or sells
the contract on the 15th of March thereby making a loss of `542 on the contract. They then buy in
the spot market the required physical quantity at `27,900. The net cost for 10 g being `28,442.
4

27300

542 (loss)

27900
Net purchase price: `28442 (`27900+`542)

Note: Although both the scenarios in the above example result in a small
profit, the objective is to lock into the price so that whichever direction the
price moves Gold BOX is not adversely affected. Loss in one market is offset
by a gain in the other. Profits are only incidental.

GOLD: HEDGING PRICE RISK

APPRECIATING THE BENEFITS OF HEDGING

Gold CHEST is confronted with a scenario where volatile prices could erode its balance-sheet value. It now uses the MCX platform
to manage risk by taking positions on the Gold Futures contract and thereby protect the company value. We now look at the
impact of price movement in either direction.

THE SITUATION
Gold CHEST is a bullion dealer which imports and sells gold biscuits and bars to a number of users. This market has been extremely unpredictable due to price volatility, a
reflection of international and domestic fundamentals. Although Gold CHEST has customers only in the local market, it is severely affected by currency fluctuations, and
customers have become non-committal, resulting in an increase of stocks in its vaults. In a recent board meeting, the managements suggestion, based on international
practices, to hedge its stocks against price movement on the MCX platform has been approved. A treasury team has been put in place, besides a broker has been identified
after a critical assessment of alternative service providers. Gold CHEST is now ready to take the plunge.

GOING SHORT: Scenarios where prices either rise or fall

On 1st January, Gold CHEST, a bullion dealer, enters into a futures contract for protecting its rising inventory against adverse price movement. Experts have put
forward the following facts and observations.
Falling prices would adversely affect the bottom line as inventory valuations would fall
Valuation will take place at the end of March and inventory has been estimated at 50 kg
Risk of change in gold prices is perceived
Going short means selling the futures contract
HOW CAN GOLD CHEST HEDGE AGAINST PRICE RISK AND PROTECT ITS BALANCE SHEET?
We will look at both possibilities, that is, price fall and price rise. Lets take the situation when prices fall first.

SCENARIO 3

IF PRICES WERE TO FALL

(`/10 grams)

DETAILS

MCX PLATFORM

PHYSICAL MARKET

1st January

SELL Gold Futures Contract

31st March

BUY Gold Futures Contract Values inventory on hand, based

on the ruling spot price

DATE

GOLD SPOT PRICE GOLD FUTURES PRICE

(expiry 5th April 201X)

01-01-201X

26850

26900

31-03-201X

25950

25700

The net position of the above transactions will negate price risk and protect value

Futures

01-01-201X

Spot

31-03-201X

SELL

26900

31-03-201X

BUY

25700

31-03-201X

BUY PRICE

1200 (profit)

25950
Net Valuation /10 g: `27150 (`25950+`1200)

EXPLANATION
The treasury team Gold CHEST short sells a 5th April futures contract on 1st January and squares the contract on 31st March. Its inventory valuation will be based on
March 31 spot price of `25950; however, this fall in value (`26850-`25950) will be partially offset by the profit of `1200 on the MCX futures platform. Hence, the
bottom line will enhance by `300 per 10 g. The effect on the bottom line is `15 lakh (`300/10 g x 50 kg).

SCENARIO 4

IF PRICES WERE TO RISE

(`/10 grams)

DETAILS

MCX PLATFORM

PHYSICAL MARKET

1st January

SELL Gold Futures Contract

31st March

BUY Gold Futures Contract Values inventory on hand, based

on the ruling spot price

DATE

GOLD SPOT PRICE GOLD FUTURES PRICE

(expiry 5th April 201X)

01-01-201X

26850

26900

31-03-201X

27250

27150

The net position of the above transactions will negate price risk and protect value

Futures

01-01-201X

Spot

31-03-201X

SELL

26900

31-03-201X

BUY

31-03-201X

BUY PRICE

EXPLANATION
The treasury department of Gold CHEST sells a futures contract on 1st January and squares up the
contract on 31st March thereby making a loss of `250 . The valuation in its books will be at `27250.
This rise in value will be tempered by the loss of `250 on the MCX futures platform. Hence, the
bottom line gets enhanced by `150 (`27250-`26850 less `250) .

27150

250 (loss)

27250
Net Valuation /10 g: `27000 (`27250-`250)

Note: In the first case the prices fall as per expectations, resulting in an
overall gain. In the second, prices rise unexpectedly, resulting in a minor
loss on the futures platform; however, overall valuations rise. The objective
to lock into the price is achieved and, Gold CHESTs, balance sheet remains
protected. Profits are only incidental.

GOLD: HEDGING PRICE RISK

exchanges and incentivizes hedging.

Hedgers are no longer forced to
undertake
physical
delivery
of
commodities to prove that their
transactions are for hedging and not
speculation .

REGULATORY
BOOSTS
FOR
HEDGERS
1. Income tax exemptions for
hedging. The Finance Act, 2013, has
provided for coverage of commodity
derivatives transactions undertaken in
recognized commodity exchanges
under the ambit of Section 43(5) of the
Income Tax Act, 1961, on the lines of the
benefit available to transactions
undertaken in recognized stock
exchanges.

VOLATILITY IN GOLD
Commodity price volatility act as a source
of risk to commodities-related business, as
it instills a degree of uncertainty over the
actual finances involved in the business.
According to the Washington-based
Corporate Executive Boards survey, of the
top 10 risks faced by corporate
participants, commodity price risk was
pronounced as number one.

2. Limit on open position as against

hedging. This enables hedgers to take
positions over and above prescribed
position limits on approval by the
exchange and thus can hedge to a great
extent of their exposure in the physical
market.

This effectively means that business

profits/losses can be offset by losses/
profits undertaken in the commodity
derivatives transactions. This enhances
the attractiveness of risk management
on recognized commodity derivative

3. Early pay-in benefit. If a hedger

makes an early pay-in of commodity, he
is exempted from paying all applicable
margins.

DAILY AVERAGE VOLATILITY (GOLD MCX PRICES)

8.00%
6.00%
4.00%
2.00%
0.00%
2.00%
4.00%
6.00%
8.00%
10.00%
12.00%

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YEAR 2011
ANNUALIZED VOLATILITY 18%

-13

2012
11%

13

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2013
23%

Source: MCX Research Team

HOW MUCH VOLATILITY RISK ARE YOU EXPOSED TO?

Gold: Witnessed an annualized price volatility of 23% in 2013,

which means:
A firm in the gold business with an annual turnover of

`1,000 cr was exposed to a price risk of

about `230 cr in 2013

India, with an annual gold market size of 974 tonnes worth about `2,82,000 crore, is exposed to a

risk on account of price volatility to the tune of `64,860 cr (that is, 23% of the holding value).
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR VOLATILITY RISK?
(Adoption of a risk management practice, such as hedging on the MCX Platform can
help shield against the perils of price volatility)

GOLD: HEDGING PRICE RISK

SALIENT CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS OF GOLD FUTURES CONTRACTS

Symbol

GOLD

GOLDM

GOLDGuinea

Contracts Available

Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec

Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Last Trading Day

5th day of contract expiry month. If 5th day is a holiday

then preceding working day.

Trading Period

Monday to Friday (10.00 a.m. to 11.30 / 11.55 p.m.)

Trading Unit

1 kg

100 grams

8 grams

Quotation/ Base Value

10 grams

10 grams

8 grams

Price Quote

Ex-Ahmedabad (inclusive of all taxes and levies relating to import duty, customs but excluding
sales tax and VAT, any other additional tax or surcharge on sales tax, local taxes and octroi)

Maximum Order Size

10 kg

Tick Size

`1

Daily Price Limit

The base price limit will be 3%. Whenever the base daily price limit is breached, the relaxation
will be allowed upto 6% without any cooling off period in the trade. In case the daily price limit
of 6% is also breached, then after a cooling off period of 15 minutes, the daily price limit will be
relaxed upto 9%

Last calendar day of the

contract expiry month.
If last calendar day is a
holiday then preceding
working day.

In case price movement in international markets is more than the maximum daily price limit
(currently 9%), the same may be further relaxed in steps of 3% beyond the maximum permitted
limit, and inform the Commission immediately.
Initial Margin

Minimum 5 % or based on SPAN whichever is higher

Additional and/ or Special Margin

In case of additional volatility, an additional margin (on both buy & sell side) and/ or special
margin (on either buy or sell side) at such percentage, as deemed fit; will be imposed in respect
of all outstanding positions.

Maximum Allowable Open Position

For individual client: 2.5 MT for all Gold contracts combined together
For a member collectively for all clients: 12.5 MT or 15% of the market wide open position
whichever is higher, for all Gold contracts combined together.

Delivery Unit

1 kg

100 grams

8 grams and in multiples thereof

Delivery Period Margin

25% of the value of the open position during the delivery period

Delivery Centres

Ahmedabad.
Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi and Hyderabad

Quality Specifications

995 purity

Delivery Logic

Compulsory

Ahmedabad.
Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad,
Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata.
999 purity

Note: Please refer to the exchange circulars for latest contract specifications

GOLD: HEDGING PRICE RISK

! Deliverable

contracts
with
internationally accepted gold bars.
! Flexibility to choose from different
contract sizes
! Highly efficient and transparent
market

BENEFITS OF HEDGING ON MCX:

! Indias no. 1 commodity exchange to
trade bullion futures.
! Highly liquid contracts.
! Low impact costs (trading costs)
because of tight bid-ask spreads

! The

market is operational both

during morning and evening, and
thus participants can take part in
price discovery when global markets
are active.

INTERESTING QUOTES ON GOLD

When we have gold we have fear, and when we have none, we are in danger
(Old English proverb)
In the absence of the gold standard, there is no way to protect savings from
confiscation through inflation. There is no safe store of value
(Alan Greenspan)
The desire for gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit
(Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century American poet)
All the gold on Earth would weight 91000 tons less than the amount of steel made
around the world in an hour. Thats rare.
(Daniel M. Kehrer, Thought Leader)
But in truth, should I meet with gold or spices in great quantity, I shall remain till I
collect as much as possible, and for this purpose I proceed solely in quest of them
(Chistopher Colombus)

GOLD DELIVERY (IN KILOGRAMS) ON MCX

10,000
9,000
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000

2013 World-wide Demand

Country
China
India
Europe
Middle East
US
Turkey
Thailand
Vietnam
Japan
Indonesia

Jewellery
711.4
612.7
43.6
178.5
122.8
73.3
3.5
11.9
17.6
37.9

* (Provisional)

4,000

Bars & Coins

408.7
362.1
265.2
52.7
67.5
101.9
136.6
80.3
3.7
30.1

Total
1120.1
974.8
308.9
231.2
190.3
175.2
140.1
92.2
21.3
68.0

Source: Thomson Reuters, GFMS, WGC

Global Demand Statistics (2013) - 4080 Tonnes

3,000
2,000

Jewellery

10%

1,000

Investment

22%

58%

200708

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

10%

Gold

Gold Mini

Gold Guinea

Technology

2013-14

Gold Petal

Central Bank
net purchases

Source: World Gold Council

Content by: MCX Research & Planning

Designed by: Department of Corporate Communications, MCX
Please send your feedback to: [email protected]
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