Andy Hecht

March is a critical month for the commodities that feed the world, as it marks the start of the planting season. As the snow melts, farmers warm up their equipment, prepare the soil, and plant the… more

In 1990, the New York Mercantile Exchange, a leading energy futures market, introduced futures contracts on U.S. natural gas for delivery at the Henry Hub in Erath, Louisiana. The price opened at… more

The raw material markets moved higher in Q4 and were higher than at the end of 2021 on December 30, 2022. The commodity asset class consisting of 29 primary commodities traded on U.S. and U.K.… more

As markets head into the final month of 2022, market participants continue to face uncertainty as the war in Ukraine continues, the Fed is battling the highest inflation in decades, gridlock in… more

On November 2, the US Fed did precisely what the market had expected and increased the Fed Funds Rate by 75 basis points for the fourth consecutive time. In March 2022, the Fed Funds Rate was at… more

The commodity markets moved lower in Q3 but were still marginally higher than the level at the end of 2021. The commodity asset class consisting of 29 primary commodities that trade on US and UK… more

Seasonality can be a significant factor for markets across all asset classes as it creates expectations and shapes sentiment. Markets move higher or lower when buyers dominate sellers or sellers… more

COMEX gold futures reached a record high in 2011 at $1,911.60. After a four-year correction, the price reached a bottom at $1046.20 in late 2015. In August 2020, the price eclipsed the 2011 high,… more

The raw material markets moved lower in Q2 but were still higher than the level at the end of 2021. The commodity asset class consisting of 29 primary commodities that trade on US and UK exchanges… more

In early March, crude oil prices rose to their highest levels since 2008 when nearby NYMEX futures rose to $130.50, and Brent futures hit $139.13 per barrel. While crude oil reached a fourteen-… more