The National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) has rationalised penalty on delivery defaults to traders in price-sensitive agri commodities effective for contracts expiring in May.
The exchange, through a circular on Monday, clarified that all compulsory delivery contracts of chana, pepper and rapeseed/mustardseed would entail an overall penalty of 1.5 per cent, reduced from three per cent earlier. In addition to that, the exchange would also charge the difference between the final settlement price (FSP) and the average of three highest of the last spot prices of five succeeding days after the expiry of contract (E+1 to E+5 days), if the average price so determined is higher than FSP; else this component will be zero.
The rationalisation would encourage traders to default more in these price-sensitive commodities in case arbitrage opportunity is higher between spot and future, and also between two subsequent contracts, an analyst said.
The 1.5 per cent penalty thus collected would be distributed among the Investor Protection Fund (IPF), a partial compensation to buyers’ loss and an income for the exchange. While a component of 0.75 per cent of the penalty amount is proposed to be deposited in IPF account, 0.50 per cent would go to the buyer who was victimised due to non-delivery of goods. The balance 0.25 per cent, however, of the penalty amount, is set to be retained by the exchange towards administrative expenses.
The revision has taken place after three years. In September 2008, the exchange had fixed three per cent as penalty in case of delivery default in all compulsory delivery contracts including chana, pepper and RM seed. The penalty structure would continue to remain at the earlier level for other commodities.