Commodities Rising: The Reality Behind the Hype and How To Really Profit in the Commodities Market

Preface

Commodities markets are a fascinating part of the world economy and financial markets. I probably first became interested in commodities as a young boy, watching tangible assets (things) move around the United States and around the world. The clockwork that is the international commodities market, that brings molybdenum from Chile to steelmakers in Pittsburgh, wheat from Kansas to bakers in North Africa, and timber from far eastern Russia to furniture makers in North Carolina, is an incredible machine, built by mankind over centuries.

My interest in commodities expanded in college, where I wanted to study how communist countries traded internationally, and the economic relationships between developing countries and corporations in the industrialized nations. A surprisingly large portion of this trade was commodities-based, and I was fortunate enough to be able to meet Soviet petroleum experts, Chinese gold traders, and South African mining magnates as part of my education. This led naturally to a career in studying commodities markets.

I have found throughout my career that others shared my passion and interest in commodities. Some of the most prominent economic thinkers of our times have discussed the extent to which they continue to track commodities markets as part of the international economic system. Commodities are less important than they used to be, in terms of percentages of gross national output, but they still form the critical base for all economic activity. ...