Neridian Commodities Exchange

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The Neridian Commodities Exchange (NCE), located in the bustling port city of Redquill on the island of Neridia, Natopia, serves as a critical hub for international trade within and beyond the Raspur Pact. It is a centralized marketplace where commodities gathered from various continental resource extraction zones are bought, sold, and traded. The NCE is a crucial part of the Community of Goldfield, a grouping of Raspur Pact member nations that enjoy greater economic integration through the common use of the Natopian natopo.

History

The Neridian Commodities Exchange was established to streamline the process of commodity trading among the member nations of the Raspur Pact. With the burgeoning growth of the Raspur Pact's trade fleets, a central clearinghouse for commodities became necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the international trade system. The city of Redquill was selected due to the central location of the island of Neridia, also known as Istvanistan, and its large and deep port, which has a sizeable capacity and can support large trade fleets.

Role and Functions

As a centralized marketplace, the NCE plays a crucial role in setting prices for commodities among the member nations of the Raspur Pact. These then have the effect of strongly influencing international prices, as the alliance contains almost all of the largest economies in Micras. The NCE provides a transparent and fair trading platform that fosters competitive price discovery and facilitates risk management. Traders can hedge against potential price changes and stabilize their operations by using the futures and options contracts offered by the NCE. The NCE also ensures that materials gathered from various resource extraction zones by the Honourable Company and related companies are appropriately channeled to the corresponding manufacturing units within the Allied Production Matrix. This streamlines the supply chain, enhancing overall economic efficiency within the Raspur Pact.

Beginning in 1723 AN the Neridian Commodities Exchange was tasked with assembling stockpiles of rare strategic minerals, at approximately 5% of annual traded volumes.

Trading

Trading at the NCE involves a wide array of commodities, including agricultural goods, energy products, metals, and more. These commodities are traded both physically and through derivative contracts. The NCE operates on a trading floor where buyers and sellers negotiate contracts, though electronic trading has increasingly become the norm.

Trading platforms

The Nexus

The Nexus, the primary trading hub of the Neridian Commodity Exchange, is a visually striking octagonal amphitheater. Fashioned to facilitate open outcry trading, the Nexus comes alive during standard trading hours, echoing with the din of energetic negotiations and high-stakes bargaining. As one approaches the Nexus, the steps leading upward along the perimeter of the octagon coupled with the descending inner steps present an amphitheater-like spectacle. The architectural design serves not only aesthetics but functionality as well, allowing a multitude of brokers to visually and audibly interact with one another throughout the trading period.

The trading process within the Nexus operates through an intricate system of verbal and physical cues. Traders communicate their intent to buy or sell by stating their proposed price and contract quantity. The specific sequence and method of this declaration, along with accompanying hand signals, indicate whether the trader wishes to buy (bid) or sell (offer). For instance, a trader aiming to buy ten contracts at a price of eight would voice, "8 for 10," putting price before quantity. Simultaneously, they would bring their palm towards their face, with the index finger pointing to the forehead - the universal gesture for 'ten' in the Nexus. However, if they wished to sell five contracts at the same price, they would vocalize, "5 at 8," expressing quantity before price and extending one hand outward, displaying five fingers. The fusion of vocal and hand-sign language mitigates the risk of misunderstandings amongst traders. Over time, this vibrant non-verbal language has been extensively documented and compiled for historical reference.

As technology advanced and electronic trading platforms emerged, the role of the Nexus as the heart of commodity trading has evolved. Though some of the trades are now completed electronically, the Nexus remains the most effective location for negotiating intricate option spreads.

Major Commodities Traded

• Updated: 1726 AN

Commodity	Average Volume (Yearly)	Average Price (Natopian natopo)
Corn	1.2 billion metric tons	₦320 per metric ton
Wheat	780 million metric tons	₦280 per metric ton
Cotton	26 million metric tons	₦1,900 per metric ton
Soybeans	360 million metric tons	₦500 per metric ton
Oil	95 million barrels per day	₦65 per barrel
Natural Gas	4 trillion cubic meters	₦3.50 per cubic meter
Coal	8 billion metric tons	₦80 per metric ton
Precious Metals (Gold, Silver)	Gold: 3,300 tons; Silver: 27,000 tons	Gold: ₦60,000 per ounce; Silver: ₦800 per ounce
Steel	1.8 billion metric tons	₦800 per metric ton
Iron	2.5 billion metric tons	₦150 per metric ton
Base Metals (Copper, Zinc, Aluminum)	Copper: 24 million metric tons; Zinc: 13 million metric tons; Aluminum: 65 million metric tons	Copper: ₦10,000 per metric ton; Zinc: ₦3,200 per metric ton; Aluminum: ₦2,300 per metric ton
Rare Metals	Varies by metal	Varies by metal
Silicon	8 million metric tons	₦2,700 per metric ton
Live Cattle	65 million heads	₦1,500 per head
Lean Hogs	100 million heads	₦1,200 per head
Soft commodities (Cocoa, Sugar, Coffee)	Cocoa: 4.8 million metric tons; Sugar: 190 million metric tons; Coffee: 10 million metric tons	Cocoa: ₦3,800 per metric ton; Sugar: ₦400 per metric ton; Coffee: ₦3,000 per metric ton
Timber	4 billion cubic meters	₦100 per cubic meter
Rubber	13 million metric tons	₦2,500 per metric ton
Quinoa	1.5 million metric tons	₦5,000 per metric ton
Rice	500 million metric tons	₦350 per metric ton
Barley	140 million metric tons	₦230 per metric ton
Sorghum	60 million metric tons	₦310 per metric ton
Cacao	5 million metric tons	₦4,000 per metric ton
Palm Oil	70 million metric tons	₦2,200 per metric ton
Olive Oil	3 million metric tons	₦8,000 per metric ton
Chickpea	15 million metric tons	₦600 per metric ton
Tea	6 million metric tons	₦3,500 per metric ton
Wool	1.1 million metric tons	₦5,500 per metric ton
Hides	8 million metric tons	₦1,700 per metric ton
Fertilizers (Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphate)	Nitrogen: 150 million metric tons; Potassium: 35 million metric tons; Phosphate: 50 million metric tons	Nitrogen: ₦400 per metric ton; Potassium: ₦500 per metric ton; Phosphate: ₦350 per metric ton
Gasoline	1.7 trillion liters	₦1.20 per liter
Propane Gas	150 billion cubic meters	₦0.90 per cubic meter
Biofuels	200 billion liters	₦1.50 per liter
Wine	27 billion liters	₦1,000 per liter
Rum	8.5 billion liters	₦1,200 per liter
Vodka	7.8 billion liters	₦900 per liter
Tequila	700 million liters	₦1,500 per liter
Whiskey	3.2 billion liters	₦1,400 per liter
Moonshine Rum	200 million liters	₦800 per liter
Chicha	877 million liters	₦600 per liter
Kombucha	297 million liters	₦600 per liter

The NCE also provides a range of services to facilitate international trade, including quality assurance, warehousing, and dispute resolution mechanisms. This makes the NCE not just a marketplace, but a vital piece of infrastructure supporting the global commodity trade.

See also

• Trade fleets
• Raspur Pact