Commodities in Focus Amid Russia Sanction Battle
The last few months have primarily focused on the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and the violent conflict has escalated in recent weeks. Now, the U.S. and European Union are imposing various sanctions on Russia in an effort to get President Vladimir Putin to play ball. These actions have yet to affect the European nation. Instead, Putin has retaliated with sanctions of his own, creating something of a legislative battle, potentially creating major headwinds for certain commodities [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
March Backwardation Report: Energy Futures Downward Sloping
Backwardation is the process by which futures contracts decrease in price as they move further out in maturity. This can often be due to the expectation of future prices or trends in a certain hard asset, but it can also occur from supply boosts, among other things. Though it is not a phenomenon that should worry investors, keeping an eye on the futures curve can help you make more informed investment decisions [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
3 Commodities Looking To Turn It Around in 2013
The first half of 2013 is officially in the books as commodity investors take a look back on a relatively eventful two quarters. While equities surged to highs never seen before, a number of commodities struggled, as analysts and investors fear that the super-cycle may be nearing its end. But while a number of high profile commodities, like gold, had a tough time this year, there were others that persisted. Below, we outline three commodities who turned in positive performances through the first six months of the year [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Monsanto Earnings Are In: Hits And Misses (MON)
In the world of agribusiness, there is no name more prolific then Monsanto Company (MON) – the world’s leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate and the second biggest producer of genetically engineered seeds. With a market cap of over $54 billion, investors pay close attention to this bellwether, following the company’s news and key earnings report [for more agricultural news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Backwardation Report: Cotton, Crude and Gasoline Face Falling Prices
Backwardation is the process where near-month futures are more expensive than those expiring later in time, which creates a downward sloping curve for prices over time. It is a natural occurrence in the commodity world, but it’s still a phenomenon that traders need to be aware of. Often, a falling futures curve could mean that the market expects the commodity to take a drop in value or that it is currently overpriced [for more commodity futures news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Beware: Cotton Heading For a Dip
While many traders primarily focus on resources like gold or oil, there are plenty of other opportunities in the commodity space. One such opportunity lies in cotton, which can be found in almost every textile product around the world; but as a soft commodity this constant demand does not always translate into consistent returns. The fluffy crop has enjoyed a strong start to 2013, but is well known for its large movements from day to day and for keeping investors on their toes [for more cotton news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Cotton Fares Well In 2013
While many commodity investors and traders primarily focus their attention on larger natural resources like gold or oil, there are plenty of other opportunities in the space; one of them lies within the soft commodity of cotton [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
China Demand Gives Cotton A Boost
Cotton has gotten plenty of attention from investors in the textile industry recently. Last year, the soft commodity suffered significant losses, surrendering just under 13% on the year. This year, however, rising demand from China has the bulls lining up to place bets on what they believe will be a great year for cotton [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
The 5 Worst Commodities of 2012
This past year has certainly been a volatile one for the commodity space, but the majority of these assets has been able to net a positive return on the year. Lumber and soybeans led the pack, as each appreciated more than 35% for the year. But bringing up the rear are a few commodities who are no strangers to volatility and weak performances. Below, we outline the five worst performing commodities of 2012 to give investors a better idea of how the year shaped up [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
