Andrew Hecht

Since 1450, there have been six reserve currencies. Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and the United States have held the top spot in the international economy. Each dominant period… more

Cocoa was the leading soft commodity in 2023, gaining 61.4% for the year that ended on December 29, 2023. While other soft commodities, including cotton and Arabica coffee futures, rose to multi-… more

Markets reflect the economic and geopolitical landscapes. In October 2023, elevated inflationary pressures and hawkish central bank monetary policies sent the short-term Fed Funds Rate from zero… 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

Gold and silver are the oldest means of exchange, far outdating dollars, euros, pounds, and all current traditional fiat and cryptocurrencies. The Bible’s old testament makes many references to… more

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… more

These upcoming events will impact commodities:

It has been a busy year, beginning… more

The second quarter of 2016 is now in the books. It was a quarter of fear of uncertainty, volatility, and gains for commodities. Overall, a composite of the 29 primary commodities that trade on… more

The US economy is the world’s largest. The US dollar has been the world’s most stable currency, and it is universally accepted as the reserve currency around the globe. The dollar is the benchmark… more