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].
Why Coffee Futures are up 80% in 2014
After commodities had a rough go in 2013, taking the backseat to surging equities, it seems that this year has more favorable conditions in store for a number of hard assets. Though a number of commodities have gotten off to a white-hot start this year, none have even come close to the gains that coffee futures have notched, as that commodity has spiked more than 80% through the first 10 weeks of the year [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
How Obama’s Budget Plan Will Affect Commodities
Earlier this week, President Obama unveiled his budget proposal for the year beginning Oct. 1. The proposed 2015 budget totals $3.9 trillion, including certain tax increases, as well as budget cuts and increases across nearly all departments. A closer look at the breakdown of Obama’s budget reveals several key factors commodity traders and investors should be aware of – particularly for the energy and agriculture industries [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]
The Next Big Industry: Farming Technology
On Wall Street, the agriculture business has long been a popular place for commodity trading. After all, it was with agricultural futures that commodity trading got its start, when farmers originally used futures contracts to offset losses in crop yields. Over the years, the agriculture space has rapidly developed, offering investors various options to cash in on the industry [for more agricultural news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
2 Commodity Stocks to Sell on the Next Pop: MOS, POT
Major U.S. equity indexes have managed to snap the losing streak that plagued markets since the New Year and February is off to a very green start. Upbeat corporate earnings have helped fuel the rebound on Wall Street while a relatively quiet political front has also helped to bring back certainty. Last month’s employment report was a mixed bag, and although investors reacted positively in light of “oversold” conditions at the time, the next labor market data release will likely be scrutinized more heavily as investors look for clues surrounding the Fed’s next move [for more commodity futures news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Brazil’s Dry Spell Affects Coffee and Sugar Prices
In the commodity space, Brazil is one of the major players in global agricultural production. Roughly 20% of the Brazilian workforce is engaged in agriculture, and more than a quarter of the country’s export earnings come from agricultural exports. Because of its dominance in the market, however, any shift in local crop conditions and climate can have significant impact on agricultural prices [for more agriculture news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Commodity Earnings on Tap: Energy All Around (BP, CMI, MRO)
As we enter the latter part of earnings season, investors have already gotten a taste of how the final three months of 2013 fared for the Street. Thus far, it seems that there have been more earnings misses or disappointing guidance given than major wins or rosy outlooks. This week will keep energy firms in the spotlight with a few key European-based firms reporting, as well as one major agribusiness entity [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]:
