Analysis Topic: Commodity Markets - Metals, Softs & Oils

The analysis published under this topic are as follows.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Explaining Central Banks' Gold Purchases / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: David_Howden

The last two years marked a significant shift in central banks' attitudes toward gold. Since 1988, central banks have been net sellers of the precious metal. Lacking convertibility of their paper currencies into the commodity, this occurrence makes perfect sense. Why hold a physical asset with costly storage fees when there is no risk that it will ever be needed? Better to hold an interest-bearing (and easily stored) asset like a government security to earn a profit in the interim. So goes the typical explanation for why central banks load their balance sheets with financial assets instead of physical ones.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Crude Oil or Natural Gas? / Commodities / Natural Gas

By: Zeal_LLC

Hydrocarbons have become the lifeblood of this modern era.  And with a huge economic incentive for finding and extracting them, drillers have scoured the world in search of this finite resource.  When they do find it, there is nothing more thrilling than bringing this raw form of energy to the surface.

The most famous extracted hydrocarbon is in liquid form, known as petroleum, or crude oil.  With the next most common form being gaseous, known as natural gas.  Crude oil has of course long been the superior hydrocarbon.  In fact, until the last half century or so oil was really the only hydrocarbon with any commercial worth.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Why is Gold Finding Support At This Level? / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Eric_McWhinnie

After a 20% fall in September, the technical picture for gold is improving. In September, gold touched a record nominal high just above $1,920, but quickly fell to about $1,540. The move scared speculators and offered a great buying opportunity for those wishing to invest in gold. Now, gold prices have recovered to $1,750. The recovery has been fueled by monetary easing actions and strong buying support across the board.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Gold and Silver Gain After Central Banks Launch Helicopters / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Eric_McWhinnie

The markets are roaring today. The Dow is surging more than 3%, while gold and silver gain nearly 2%. There is an abundance of news fueling today’s rally. Most importantly for precious metal investors, central banks prove once again they are willing to provide stimulus to the global financial market.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Bank of England Gives "Systemic Crisis" Warning, Merkel says Eurozone "Will Take Years" to Solve Debt Problem / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Ben_Traynor

U.S.DOLLAR Gold Bullion prices eased back from a week's high of $1760 an ounce Friday lunchtime in London – straight after the publication of US jobs data – before appearing to bounce off $1750.

Silver prices also fell back, after hitting a week's high of $33.67 per ounce.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Bank of Korea Increases Gold Reserves by Massive Nearly $1 Billion or 39% in November Alone / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: GoldCore

Gold is trading at USD 1,752.90, EUR 1,298.30, GBP 1,116.10, CHF 1,604, JPY 136,700 and AUD 1,706.4 per ounce.

Gold’s London AM fix this morning was USD 1,751.00, GBP 1,116.50, and EUR 1,298.29 per ounce.

Yesterday's AM fix was USD 1,750.00, GBP 1,113.02, and EUR 1,298.03 per ounce.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Graphene The "Miracle Material" That Will Change the World / Commodities / Metals & Mining

By: Money_Morning

Michael A. Robinson writes: A radical new material made from a single carbon atom will soon have a pervasive impact on the U.S. economy - and the entire human race.

Stronger than steel and lighter than a feather, this high-tech medium will shape virtually every part of our daily lives by the end of this decade.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Gold Putting a Gleam in Your IRA / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Terry_Coxon

You likely have seen invitations to open a "Gold IRA" or something with a similar name. Perhaps you should, but before you do, think about why an Individual Retirement Account might or might not be a good place to hold gold. That may tell you something about the best way to introduce gold into your IRA.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Gold and Silver Gain After Central Banks Launch Helicopters / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Eric_McWhinnie

The markets are roaring today. The Dow is surging more than 3%, while gold and silver gain nearly 2%. There is an abundance of news fueling today’s rally. Most importantly for precious metal investors, central banks prove once again they are willing to provide stimulus to the global financial market.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Gold Silver Ratio Jumps, ECB Points to Deflation Risk / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Adrian_Ash

WHOLESALE PRICES in the gold investing market continued to rise Thursday morning in London, extending yesterday's 2.8% jump after the world's biggest central banks offered unlimited short-term loans to their local banking sectors.

Crude oil also held near two-week highs after the United Kingdom called for "international financial isolation" of Iran following this week's attack on its embassy in Tehran.

Thursday, December 01, 2011

Is Gold Price Parabolic Blow Off Long Due? / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Hubert_Moolman

The last three major bull markets of the Dow have been followed by a bull market in gold. This is no coincidence, since these massive bull markets have been mostly driven by the huge expansion of the money supply. When this expansion of credit is exhausted, the confidence in all things (like stocks) inflated by this expansion of credit fails, causing a massive rush to gold.

Thursday, December 01, 2011

Is Greed Good for Gold? / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: The_Gold_Report

Amid a chorus of gold mining pundits yelling for investors to snap up cheap gold equities is Ian McAvity, a 50-year veteran of the markets, telling investors to wait. In this exclusive interview with The Gold Report, McAvity, who produces Deliberations on World Markets, explains why historical cycles lead him to believe the market is in for some new lows and what that means for the gold price and the juniors seeking out that shiny metal.

Thursday, December 01, 2011

How to Own Precious Metals Warrants / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Lorimer_Wilson

With all the interest in physical gold, silver and other commodities these days, and the large/mid-cap companies who mine the metals and the juniors who are exploring for them, it begs the question: “Why is no one writing about the merits of investing in the long-term warrants associated with a few of those companies?” Merits? Absolutely!

The proprietary Gold and Silver Warrants Index (GSWI) returned 92% and generated a 60% leverage of dollars deployed in 2010. Now that I have told you why you should consider investing in warrants and no doubt have your undivided attention read on as I outline:

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

China to Embrace Natural Gas Fracking In an Effort to Ramp up Energy Production / Commodities / Natural Gas

By: OilPrice_Com

China is leaving no shale deposit unturned in its effort to develop indigenous energy resources.

On 24 November China's Ministry of Land and Resources geological exploration department head Peng Qiming said during a press conference that China's combined oil and natural gas output, 280 million tons in 2010, is projected to rise to 360 million tons of oil equivalent by 2015, a 23 percent increase in four years and will rise to 450 million tons by 2030, a 62 percent increase over 2010 production, impressive rises in production by any yardstick.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

BHP, Vale, Rio Tinto, World's Largest Miners Like Potash / Commodities / Agricultural Commodities

By: Richard_Mills

Miners are looking to enter the potash business, or expand existing operations, as they look for increased demand from developing nations such as China, India and Brazil.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Gold Jumps after Central Banks Launch Liquidity Measures / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Ben_Traynor

U.S.DOLLAR gold bullion prices leapt 1.7% in 30 minutes Wednesday lunchtime in London – hitting $1744 an ounce – following an announcement of coordinated action from central banks worldwide aimed at increasing Dollar liquidity in the global financial system.

The Bank of Canada, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, the European Central Bank, the Federal Reserve, and the Swiss National Bank will all lower the price on existing Dollar liquidity swap arrangements by 50 basis points (0.5 percentage points), effective Monday.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Why Politicians Are Good for Gold / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Julian_DW_Phillips

After a long and lengthening political debacle on both sides of the Atlantic, the developed world remains embedded in a crisis that the political systems are unable, or unwilling, to resolve despite all the hopeful talks. The leaders of the developed world are capable, competent men who have what it takes to surmount the debt crises that are consuming confidence day by day. So why don't they?

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

John Paulson’s Fund Obscures Gold and Silver ETF Flow Data / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2011

By: Dr_Jeff_Lewis

Absent the weekly COT report for gold and silver, the array of exchange-traded funds available on the market acts as an excellent source of money flow data for both silver and gold.  While the media tends to focus on total assets, exchange-traded funds also release the quantity of gold and silver attributed to individual exchange-traded funds.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Can Domestic Natural Gas Cut the U.S. Budget Deficit? / Commodities / Natural Gas

By: The_Energy_Report

The prospect of significant U.S. natural gas production may not be powerful enough to overcome the hot air coming from government quarters, but ShadowStats Editor John Williams identifies it as one bright spot in his otherwise dark outlook for the U.S. economy. As Williams tells The Energy Report in this exclusive interview, increased domestic shale production may not save the U.S. dollar from extinction but it just might have a major positive impact on the GDP, the trade deficit and employment.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Where is Support for Gold and Silver Stocks? / Commodities / Gold & Silver Stocks

By: Jordan_Roy_Byrne

It has been a tough year for the mining stocks. The large stocks have moved back and forth in a range from support to resistance while the mid tiers and juniors have really struggled especially in recent months. With Europe seemingly on the brink and most markets turning down, it is an opportune time to examine the technical support of the various gold and silver equity indices. The longer the large cap equities maintain support, the more internal strength they build in preparation for a breakout in early 2012. In turn, such action would greatly help the juniors and non producers who have had a difficult year.