The Alaya Conscious - White Noise

Metals Position Limits: For Better or Worse?

This spring, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission held hearings to consider federal position limits for precious- and base-metal futures and options markets, and to discuss hedge exemptions and execution facilities. It was not the first time that position limits were discussed, nor will it be the last.

The CFTC has just concluded the comment period on proposed position limits for energy and metals markets, and it is likely that the process will soon be repeated for soft agricultural commodities.

CFTC Commissioner Bart Chilton says that position limits beyond those that currently exist in spot-month contracts should be considered for all commodities of finite supply, including oil, natural gas, gold and silver, and soft agricultural commodities.

“The amount that some traders can control in some markets is so high that it could be potentially manipulative,” Chilton says. “What if someone has 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent? How about 51 percent? You get an immediate response from people who don’t follow these markets. They understand that there is the possibility of foul play, and it’s unanimous,” he says.

<< Read the story at SFOMAG.COM >> (Free registration required) 

John Doe - The Conversation

In this 10 minute conversation, John Doe, singer, song writer and former member of LA punk band X, talks about his recent work in the forth coming indie film "Hated," working with The Sadies on the album "Country Club" and playing with X at North by Northeast in Toronto, where the 1995 film "X: The Unheard Music" was screened.


Upcoming dates include
SA 07.17.10 - Milwaukee, WI
SA 08.07.10 - Big Sur, CA
SU 08.29.10 - Ontonagon, MI
SA 11.20.10 - Northridge, CA