The Calcutta Chamber of Commerce hosted a pivotal seminar on “Commodities as an Asset Class,” featuring expert insights from Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. (MCX), Ashika Group. The session aimed to enlighten investors, corporate participants, and stakeholders about the growing importance of commodity derivatives, portfolio diversification, and risk management in a volatile market. Experts at the session emphasized that with rising inflation and global geopolitical uncertainties, commodities—particularly precious metals like gold and silver—have emerged as a robust hedge, often outperforming traditional asset classes. Industry experts noted a rare trend where precious metals (gold/silver) and industrial metals (copper/aluminium) are rising simultaneously, driven by both safe-haven demand and high industrial consumption in infrastructure and EV sectors. The session provided insights into how small and medium enterprises can leverage commodity derivatives for hedging against price volatility in raw materials. Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. (MCX) is India’s leading commodity derivatives exchange, offering trading in various products, including bullion, energy, and base metals.
Shri Sanjay Gakhar, Vice President of Business Development, Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (MCX) showcased how commodities provide unique investment opportunities, provided a comprehensive overview of the commodity futures market and detailed sessions on using futures and options for managing price risks in various commodities. Shri Anuj Gupta, Commodity Market Analyst,highlighted commodities as an effective alternative investment class to hedge against inflation and equity volatility. Shri Rahul Gupta, Chief Business Officer, Ashika Group discussed on the evolving landscape of Indian commodity markets and regulatory developments. The seminar emphasized that with rising global commercialization in commodities, understanding derivatives is essential for value chain participants. The experts showcased how commodities provide unique investment opportunities.
President Shri Anant Saharia said, “The participation of MCX and Expert Speaker and Ashika Group provided invaluable knowledge to the delegates,”.”This seminar empowered participants with a better understanding of the opportunities in the commodity space to optimize their investment portfolios.” Shri Sahariaremaked, “Ina volatileglobal macroeconomic climate,commodities have, in recent years,outperformed several major asset classesand reaffirmed their valuewithin diversified portfolios. Reviews of 2025 and outlook for 2026 indicate that hard assets — including precious metals, base metals, and energy — have delivered robust returns relative to many traditional financial instruments”. The Vice President of the Chamber, Shri Purushottam Agrawal thanked the speakers for their insights. He expressed appreciation to the Speakers for their thought provoking deliberations.
