Commentary
Q3 2017 Winners and Losers and a Look Ahead to Q4
Oct 02, 2017
The dollar index moved lower by 2.66% in the third quarter of 2017, and commodities prices moved higher with four of the six major sectors posting gains. Out of the 29 commodities that I follow, 20 posted gains during the three-month period that... more
Crude Oil Returns to Its Sweet Spot
Aug 01, 2017
In the world of commodities futures, crude oil is the most closely watched and heavily traded market. We are all oil consumers in some form as we drive cars, heat our homes during the cold season, buy products that travel in trucks powered by... more
Q2 2017 Winners and Losers and a Look Ahead to Q3
Jul 03, 2017
The dollar index moved lower by 4.79% in the second quarter of 2017. Out of the 29 commodities that I follow, 22 posted losses during the three-month period that ended last Friday, June 30. Commodities are watching the dollar move lower while... more
The Dollar and Commodities Prices
Jun 02, 2017
The US dollar is the reserve currency of the world, and it is also the benchmark pricing mechanism for most raw material prices. Typically, a weak dollar results in strong commodities prices and vice versa. However, the dollar has been... more
Gold - Three Charts Spell Confusion
May 01, 2017
Gold opened 2017 with a roar after hitting lows in December. The price of the yellow metal has made higher lows and higher highs so far with the most recent peak coming on April 17, when the active month June COMEX futures contract hit $1297... more
Q1 2017 Winners and Losers and a Look Ahead to Q2
Apr 03, 2017
The dollar index moved lower by 2.02% in the first quarter of 2017, and commodities prices moved higher with four of the six major sectors posting gains. Many raw materials made multiyear lows in late 2015 and early 2016 but have recovered in... more
Oil Goes to Sleep with Record Open Interest
Mar 01, 2017
The trading range in crude oil has been narrow since the middle of December 2016. From high to low since December 19, the price of active month NYMEX crude oil futures have traded in a range of only $4.53 per barrel. Considering that there were... more
Gold and Silver Reassert
Feb 03, 2017
After Election Day in November, it looked like the rallies in gold and silver that took place over the course of 2016 were over and done. Nearby gold futures fell to lows of $1,123.90 and silver reached a low of $15.70 per ounce in December. Both... more
Q4 2016 Winners and Losers and a Look Ahead to Q1 2017
Jan 03, 2017
The dollar index exploded higher by 7.23% in Q4 2016, but most raw material prices ignored the greenback. The principal raw materials traded on US and UK futures exchanges rose by 3.75% in Q4. The dollar was up by 3.59% in 2016 and commodities... more
Election Results and Commodity Prices
Dec 01, 2016
An election is always a time of uncertainty; however, when an incumbent’s term ends and the election for a new and unknown leader occurs, it often leads to an increase in volatility. The 2016 election was one of the most contentious, hard-fought... more