How To Trade Commodities
How to trade commodities is a question that comes up quite quickly when people start to be interested in commodities and not without reason. Trading commodities can be done in different ways, all depending on the time spent and risk taken.
One of the first thing to take into consideration when looking into commodities, is that they are traded, seldom invested in. Due to the nature of the commodities markets, investing is not possible except through funds. Nobody buys a futures contract and then waits for the kids to go to college.
What Is Commodity Trading
For those wondering, what is commodity trading, the shortest answer would be “it’s the buying and selling of raw material”. This of course is the short answer, but those interested in the longer and a more detailed answer, might want to read on.
Gold drops on stronger dollar
The US dollar gained on the euro after Fed chairman Ben Bernanke said the risk of a substantial downturn in the US economy had diminished and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said that he would never rule out currency intervention. As a consequence of stronger dollar, gold prices have been getting lower, mainly as gold has been seen as a hedge against inflation and weaker dollar.
Oil falls after a record surge on Friday
After climbing nearly $11 on Friday, light crude oil fell to $135 after recovering some of the loss and climbing to $137. No single reason seems to be for the surge in price on Friday, but speculation about Morgan Stanley's comment that oil could reach $150 as early as July 4th, may have had some thing to do with it.
Lower commodity prices seen as a buying opportunity
Even though the drop in commodity prices has been considerable some analysts claim that there might be some more to come. Some analysts expect commodity prices to drop 10 to 20 percent, but that the overall bullish trend in commodities will be intact and higher prices to follow. Any such drop would draw in new investors and fresh funds.
Most analysts point to the emerging middle classes of countries like India and China. These people are getting more and more demanding and the desire for luxury and better lifestyle has prompted the increased use of commodities, like oil and metals.
Higher commodity prices on stronger euro and weaker dollar
The euro strengthened against the dollar when Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank indicated a rise in the interest rate later this year. With weaker dollar, commodity prices began to rise, with the price of oil passing $124.
Oil and other commodity prices hit by stronger dollar
The day after Ben Bernanke came out with a statement that confirmed rumors of end to lower interest rates, commodity prices continued to fall. With oil trading below $124 and other commodities trading lower, the rally in commodities could be in for a pause or even a pullback. Weak dollar having been given as a major reason for high commodity prices, the increased strength in the dollar might be about to change the bullish trend in commodities.
Governments talk about limiting speculation in commodity markets due to high prices
High commodity prices have spurred some talks within western governments to limit the effect of speculation on prices. The Austrian finance minister Wilhelm Molterer has said that he's going to propose a Europe wide tax on speculative commodity trading. The US senate has also started to look at speculation in commodity trading and is thought to be looking at ways to set limits on speculative trading.
Commodity prices to remain high but dip in prices expected says FAO
In a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) the price of agricultural commodities are expected to stay higher the coming 10 years, than they've been the previous 10 years. The present cost of agricultural products are expected to go down from present levels, but not far.
While beef and pork prices are expected to be around 20% higher than the last 10 years, wheat and corn are expected to be around 60% higher.
Oil prices continue to fall after more than $3 drop yesterday
Asian markets have seen the oil prices continuing the fall from yesterday of more than $3 as worries that Asian countries are starting to feel the increased pressure of oil prices. The smaller Asian countries have begun to cut subsidies and India is believed to be thinking about increasing prices. The effect of higher oil prises could start to affect the Asian booming economies, increasing the worries of lower production. China is still heavily subsidizing oil and is not expected to cut on subsidizes until after the summer Olympics.
