Grain Prices Facing Harsh Headwinds
Grains commodities are sitting at lows that have not been seen for approximately four years, creating something of a headache for commodity investors. Corn, soybeans, and wheat have all been getting hit hard this year, as production is on track to set records. In fact, the aforementioned commodities are among the worst performing of the entire space in 2014 [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
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].
U.S. Heatwave Draws Comparisons to 2012
Déjà vu all over again. It was about this time last year that much of the U.S. was engulfed in a crushing heatwave that injected a fair amount of volatility into the commodity world; namely in the agriculture markets. With the U.S. dominating the production of a number of big name crops, the recent heatwave has caught the attention of a number investors looking to cash in on the trend [for more agricultural commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Dry Weather Leads To Rising Crop Prices
With Summer temperatures topping out around the United States, the heat could have consequences beyond rising electric bills. Corn and soybean crops will reach maturity over the next few weeks, but the dry heat affecting growing areas of the US could erode crop conditions. As the historically largest exporter of soybeans and corn, U.S. farmers have a lot of pressure to ensure a strong harvest this year but analysts are already predicting another rough summer for the commodity supply [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
3 Commodity Investments To Profit From Population Growth
One of the most talked-about global trends in recent years has been the rapid growth in population. As emerging markets around the world enter periods of robust growth, their populations have also been on the rise. Though a growing worldwide population will certainly cause a number of issues, it will also present commodity investors with a fair amount of opportunities, as some hard assets represent a great way to profit from the current trend [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Ethanol Comeback May Boost Corn Prices
The global energy space has been dominated by discussions about fossil fuel alternatives in recent years, as there are a number of solutions to our addiction to these commodities. One of the most popular options has been the use of corn-based ethanol in crude oil, which decreases the amount of crude oil needed when the ethanol is mixed in. While it is not a one-stop solution, many see it as a sign of weening ourselves off of crude oil and working towards a more renewable resource [for more ethanol news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
