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. [Let us change all that!] Words:2376

Commodities have obvious appeal to active investors looking to generate profits from short-term price movements [but while] the volatility of this asset class is ideal for risk-tolerant individuals who actively monitor their positions...commodities may also have appeal to the long-term, buy-and-hold crowd...These potentially appealing attributes come with plenty of risk, [however, as] the path to commodity exposure is full of potential obstacles and pitfalls that can erode returns and lead to a less-than-optimal investing experience. Here are ten rules of thumb that will help you achieve a more successful experience investing in commodity markets. Words: 2871

Gold and silver continue to receive the lion's share of press headlines and investment writers' attention. [While] our team believes this theme will continue, there are other assets which benefit from a weak dollar, especially if a weak dollar is combined with some decent economic activity. [One such asset] is copper, a base metal that, like gold and silver, [that will] appreciate with inflation and has tremendous potential for increased demand given the theme of 2012 - economic growth. [Let me explain in some detail why we think that is the case.] Words: 1150

When it comes to both the socio-economic and geopolitical circumstances in the world today, don't forget...[to] invest accordingly. [Let me explain why and which assets could benefit and be hurt by such events.] Words: 528

A Barclays Capital research [report] notes that gold prices are vulnerable to a recession - more so than some of the other commodities. In the last recession of 2008, gold prices appreciated the least among precious metals. Below is a table that ranks 30 different commodities. Words: 571

We now believe that there is at least a 50% probability of Israeli airstrikes against Iranian nuclear sites... Iran has multiple retaliatory options at its disposal...[and it begs the question:] Which options would most adversely affect the price of oil? [Let's take a look at what those options would be.] Words: 544

About two years ago, I looked through a BHP Billiton presentation which listed the number of years remaining for particular commodities. It was not an analysis of “peak” commodities as such, just a report on when various commodities would be completely, 100% depleted based on current usage rates and reserve assumptions. Copper in that report was determined to be scarcer than oil! [What does that mean for the future well-being of the U.S. - and the world?] Words: 1380