The Surging Demographic Trends Behind Grain Investing
One of the driving forces behind commodity investing has been the exponential increase in the human population, as demand for these products continues to grow at an alarming rate. Among these commodities, grains are perhaps the most essential, as they are the staple of food products all over the world. Food commodities enjoy relatively inelastic demand; a demand that has been rapidly growing alongside the global population [for more grains news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
All About The Wheat ETF (WEAT)
Wheat is arguably one of the most important crops in the world, and currently ranks as one of the three most consumed grains across the globe. Wheat is prized for being relatively easy to grow, as well as for being able to flourish in a vast array of environments. The crop is also able to stay fresh for extended periods of time, allowing the it to be stored for a long duration. These qualities have made wheat a dietary stable in both developed and emerging markets [for more wheat news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Why Jim Rogers Still Loves Agricultural Commodities
Given all of the turmoil in markets this year, we have seen a number of investors change their positions on statements made in the past. Jim Rogers, for example, has now stated that he is looking into investing in Russia after snubbing the country for his entire investing life. But there is one thing that Rogers is still as bullish as ever on, agricultural commodities. It has been no secret that he has been a fan of these hard assets for quite some time, but a recent interview shows that he still loves these commodities and is as bullish as ever [for more agricultural news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
2012′s Best Performing Commodity ETF
2012 has been a relatively volatile year. After starting things off on a strong note, markets began to push and pull in either direction, and commodities have been no exception. Picking the right commodity investment for the year has been a tall order, as very few have been consistent. But now that we are more than halfway through the year, some have begun to pull away from the pack, and so too have the ETFs that track them [for more commodity news subscribe to our free newsletter].
Panic, Drought, Massive Gains For The Grains
It is no secret that grain prices have been soaring as a number of savvy commodity investors have been cashing in on the latest trend to take the world of hard assets. Many are also aware that a nation-wide drought has been the culprit of said price rises. But while the drought has been widely covered, few realize just how severe it has been. For starters, the trailing 12 months have been the hottest on record for the U.S. since records have been kept (dating back to 1895). Combine that with the lack of rain in the past few months and you have the worst drought seen in nearly 70 years, putting a major pinch on the prices of a number popular commodities [see also Five ETFs To Own During The Next Market Collapse].
Commodity Trading Trends: Wheat Futures Soaring
While most traders have kept their eyes glued to high profile commodities like gold and crude oil, wheat futures have been on an absolute tear. Three different kinds of wheat futures are up more than 10% in the trailing week, with standard wheat futures gaining roughly 18%. The majority of the crop is used in human consumption, ranging from cereal and bread, to pasta and even beer. Unlike corn, wheat is primarily used as food and doesn’t find its way into biofuels or livestock feed nearly as much as its yellow cousin. As a result, wheat is grown primarily to make a high quality flour for baking bread in countries around the world [see also Invest Like Jim Rogers With These Three Agriculture Stocks].
50 Ways To Invest In Agriculture
The agriculture sector has long been a popular place for commodity trading. After all, it was with agricultural futures that commodity trading got its start. Farmers had originally used these contracts to help offset any losses in crop yields. Now, the agricultural space has blossomed into a market chock full of options for investors, but many investors are still unaware of the vast opportunities that this sector offers [see also Invest Like Jim Rogers With These Three Agriculture Stocks]. No matter what kind of investor you are, there is certainly an agriculture/agribusiness option that fits your investment style. Below, we outline 50 ways to invest in agriculture to help investors pick the correct security for their portfolio: