Nickel

Overview

• ▪ Nickel is a naturally occurring, lustrous, silvery-white metal. It is the fifth most common element on earth and occurs extensively in the earth's crust. However, most of the nickel is inaccessible in the core of the earth. Some of the key characteristics of nickel are its high melting point, resistance against corrosion and oxidation, ductility and catalytical properties, ease of deposit by electroplating and formation of alloys readily. Nickel plays an important role in our daily lives, making its way in myriad objects around us like food preparation equipment, mobile phones, medical equipment, transport, buildings, and power generation—the list is almost endless. There are about 3000 nickel-containing alloys in everyday use.
• ▪ About 65% of the nickel produced is used to manufacture stainless steel. Another 20% is used in other steel and non-ferrous alloys, often for highly specialized industrial, aerospace, and military applications. About 9% is used in plating and 6% for other uses, including coins, electronics, batteries for portable equipment, and hybrid cars. In many of these applications there is no substitute for nickel without impairing performance or increasing cost.
• ▪ Nickel gets precedence over other metals because it offers better corrosion resistance, better toughness, and better strength at high and low temperatures; it also provides a range of special magnetic and electronic properties.
• ▪ In the nickel market, risk management techniques are critical for participants such as producers, exporters, marketers, processors, and SMEs. Given an uncertain future, modern techniques and strategies, including market-based risk management financial instruments, such as ‘Nickel Futures’, offered on the MCX platform can improve efficiencies and consolidate competitiveness through price risk management.

Factors Influencing the Market

• ▪ Prices ruling in international markets.
• ▪ Indian rupee and US dollar exchange rates.
• ▪ Economic events such as national industrial growth, global financial crisis, recession, and inflation, affect the metal prices.
• ▪ Commodity-specific events, such as the construction of new production facilities or processes, unexpected mine or plant closures (natural disaster, supply disruption, accident, strike, and so forth), or industry restructuring, affect metal prices.
• ▪ Geopolitical events.

* Disclaimer: The users are also advised to refer to latest circular issued by the Exchange.