In a chilling insight into the workings of the modern financial world, the global markets company the 'CME Group' has launched water futures to be traded on the global stock-market. What this means is that water, like all other commodities such as gold, silver, platinum and oil, can now be traded based on its value. The water futures were launched on the Nasdaq stock exchange, one of the world's biggest and most important stock exchanges.
The future began trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Monday under the code NHQ2O and was valued at $486.53 per Acre Foot ($/AF).
Water is perhaps the most important commodity in the world. Clean water is vital for human life to be sustained and it is also vital for agriculture, and therefore human-food consumption. It is also essential for industry and making the global economy tick. Therefore, control of water by major corporations or speculation upon it by financial traders could mean that is not allocated appropriately, or that it is hoarded and sold simply to the highest bidder in order to make a profit. It has clearly made many people uncomfortable that the most precious commodity will now be allocated to those with wealth as opposed to those who need it the most.
One reason investors see water as such a lucrative commodity to invest in is because much of the world is running out of fresh-water as the demand for water outstrips supply, and because global-warming is decreasing fresh-water reserves globally. The price can, therefore, be expected to rise in the long-term.
In a statement, the CME Group said:
"The NQH20 futures will be an innovative tool to provide agricultural, commercial, and municipal water users with greater transparency, price discovery, and risk transfer, which can help to more efficiently align supply and demand of this vital resource."
Deane Dray, a financial analyst, told Bloomberg:
"Climate change, droughts, population growth, and pollution are likely to make water scarcity issues and pricing a hot topic for years to come. We are definitely going to watch how this new water futures contract develops."
Globally around 2 billion people live without access to clean water and it is believed that due to global-warming, as many as 2/3 of the world's population could soon live in countries where access to fresh water is no longer guaranteed. Many geopolitical analysts have also warned that as fresh-water becomes more-scarce, it could cause financial calamity and even result in wars between nations seeking to control water supplies.
The CME Group says that, by providing a clear benchmark price, it will allow governments and corporations to better plan their purchasing of water and its allocation.
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