Weekly Market Recap - HardAssetsInvestor.com

B Is For Bubble?

2009-11-10

Last week’s Inside Commodities conference brought the best and brightest in the world of commodities together, where they debated key questions: Are oil and gold in a bubble? Are ags immune?

Stocks Or Futures?

2009-11-02

Which is the better way to play the commodities markets: equities- or futures-based ETFs? Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig run the numbers.

Commodities Bubble Or Dollar Crash?

2009-10-27

Are the doomsayers right? Are commodity prices just too high across the board? Or is this simply a matter of the dollar being too suppressed? HAI editors Matt Hougan, Dave Nadig and Lara Crigger debate.

Gold For Oil?

2009-10-20

In this week’s HardAssetsInvestor.com podcast, Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig argue about the recent suggestion that OPEC might start trading the black gold directly for the yellow kind, skipping the dollar altogether.

Sky Falling?

2009-10-06

With Nouriel Roubini calling the commodities markets overvalued, HAI editors Dave Nadig and Matt Hougan look at the numbers behind the doom and gloom. Is Roubini right again?

The Great Debate

2009-09-29

Building on recent HardAssetsInvestor interviews with Rick Ferri and Larry Swedroe, HAI Editors Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig do a little role-playing of the core arguments. Are commodities a true strategic asset class, or just a trading vehicle?

Options Skew Toward Oil Fall

2009-09-22

Options markets are charging a premium for downside protection in the oil markets. HAI editor Matt Hougan says that's just one piece of a dangerous puzzle for oil bulls.

Unhedged Or Unhinged?

2009-09-15

Barrick Gold is making a multibillion-dollar bet by unwinding its gold hedging program. HAI editors Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig argue the pros and cons for investors.

The Death Of An ETF

2009-09-08

With the closure of DXO, Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig look at the implications for other futures-based ETFs. What REALLY happened to the double-long oil fund, and are other funds far behind?

China: Smoke & Mirrors?

2009-09-01

With the constant ebb and flow of China news, how do we know what to believe? Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig try to separate the facts from fiction.

Futures-Based ETFs: Going Away, Or Just In Flux?

2009-08-25

With ETF issuers closing the creation window, does the futures-based ETF have any hope? Will new position limits effectively kill the business and kick retail investors out of the commodities markets? Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig discuss.

China Up! China Down?

2009-08-18

With headlines changing by the day, how can investors make sense of the Chinese demand equation for commodities? Is copper topped? Is the shipping index (BDI) the key? Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig work the angles.

Regulated Out Of Business?

2009-08-11

Will increased regulation of the commodities markets kill the commodities ETF business? And will it drive trading off-exchange and overseas, as Jim Rogers suggests? Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig dig in.

Good News? Really?

2009-08-04

Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig pour over the headlines that are supposedly driving the commodities boom of the past month, and they find the evidence unconvincing. Are the baby-step improvements in the world economy really enough to justify the rally?

Sweet Tooth?

2009-07-28

With sugar at three-year highs, Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig debate whether sugar has reached the top, or if the fundamentals will keep sugar rolling into next year.

Peak Oil: Fact Or Fiction?

2009-07-21

With new data and new analysis floating around the Web, Matt Hougan holds Dave Nadig's feet to the fire on the peak oil hypothesis.

Regulation Inbound?

2009-07-14

With CFTC Chairman Gensler talking about new position limits and increased disclosure, Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig try and suss out what this new regulatory scheme would mean for ETFs. Could the biggest commodities ETFs even survive?

A Dying Dollar?

2009-07-07

With Chinese companies starting to book international trade in yuan for the first time, what's a commodity investor to think? With most commodities denominated in dollars, is currency now a hard assets enemy?

Shorting Crude? A New Option

2009-06-30

The company behind the hugely popular US Oil Fund (USO) and US Natural Gas Fund (UNG) files for an inverse oil ETF. Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig explain how this is fundamentally a different animal than the inverse and leveraged funds that have made so many unhappy headlines.

Crazy For Henry Hub: Natural Gas ETFs

2009-06-23

The $4 billion U.S. Natural Gas Fund (UNG) is all over the media this week, and UNG's fund sponsor has filed for a 12-month variant. Is natural gas the new oil? And are ETFs driving the market?

Oil Crosses $70: But Why?

2009-06-16

With OPEC blowing its own quotas, non-OPEC countries with surprise production and some offsetting stronger demand predictions, can the price possibly hold?

Why The Focus On Gold Manipulation?

2009-06-09

With several high-profile articles on the site, Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig discuss why gold manipulation is a constant topic among gold investors.

An Oil Bull Market?

2009-06-02

With oil close to $70 a barrel, Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig debate the true cause of May's 30% run-up: fundamentals, the dollar or pure fantasy?

Super Steel?

2009-05-27

Rio Tinto managed to surprise Wall St. with a strong outcome to Nippon Steel price negotiations. Will the good news carry over into other commodities, and how can investors play the steel game? Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig dig in.

Copper & Oil: Demand? What Demand?

2009-05-19

With unrest in Nigeria supporting oil prices and rising homebuilder confidence keeping copper afloat, Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig argue about the long-term demand issues facing these two key industrial commodities.

Rally Caps All Around

2009-05-13

With good news seeming to come from all corners of the global economy, Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig ponder what this means for gold investors. Is good news bad news?

Shorting Oil?

2009-05-05

Last Friday, Louis Stanasolovich made a bold call for short oil. But how exactly would you do that? Matt Hougan and Dave Nadig look at your options in this week's HardAssetsInvestor.com podcast.

Gold Demand: Looking Ahead

2009-04-28

With the increased Chinese gold reserves in the headlines, Associate Editor Dave Nadig and Editor-in-Chief Matt Hougan take a look at the gold demand equation.

Thinking Different: Alternative Commodities

2009-04-20

It's 'alternatives week' at HardAssetsInvestor.com, and we're focused on wine and diamonds instead of wheat and corn for a few days. Associate Editor Dave Nadig and Editor-in-Chief Matt Hougan dig into the unique challenges of these alternative hard assets, and debate just what makes a commodity a commodity.

Giving Away The Gas?

2009-04-13

Natural gas prices are as low as they've been in half a decade. Inventories are massive, and rigs are shutting down. Associate Editor Dave Nadig and Editor-in-Chief Matt Hougan dissect the numbers and consider the possible plays.

Agricultural Conundrums

2009-04-06

In this week's HardAssetsInvestor.com podcast, Associate Editor Dave Nadig argues with Editor-in-Chief Matt Hougan about whether plantings, weather and the prospects for global economic recovery make agricultural commodities a must-have.

Getting Trendy

2009-03-31

On this week's HardAssetsInvestor.com podcast, Associate Editor Dave Nadig grills Editor-in-Chief Matt Hougan about the upcoming Claymore ETF designed to track the S&P Commodity Trends Indicator. Could it be a better mousetrap for index investors?

Two Flavors of Inflation

2009-03-24

On this week's HardAssetsInvestor.com podcast, Associate Editor Dave Nadig and Editor-in-Chief Matt Hougan get into the nitty-gritty of inflation. Is it too early to call a real bottom in commodities markets, setting the stage for a real demand-based rally?

A Bet on Oil

2009-03-17

In this week's HardAssetsInvestor podcast, Associate Editor Dave Nadig discloses his oil-price bar bet with Matt Hougan, Editor-in-Chief. A stable $70 oil in less than a year?

Gold At $2,500/Ounce?

2009-03-10

Editor-in-Chief Matt Hougan takes a look at UBS' call for $2,500/ounce gold and wonders, are they for real?

Oil: $300? or $10?

2009-03-03

Associate Editor Dave Nadig chats with Matt Hougan about the tremendous decline in oil this week, and digs into pundit predictions of $300 oil, the prospect for OPEC cuts, and the signals from the long term futures contracts.

Digging Into Gold

2009-02-24

Associate Editor Dave Nadig talks with Editor-in-Chief Matt Hougan about the shifting sands of gold supply, and how increased investor demand is changing the way gold behaves in turbulent markets.

Stimulus? What Stimulus?

2009-02-17

Associate Editor Dave Nadig talks with Editor-in-Chief Matt Hougan about the fate of oil, natural gas and alternative energy in the wake of the just-signed stimulus package.

Black and Yellow Gold

2009-02-10

Associate Editor Dave Nadig talks with Editor in Chief Matt Hougan about the incredible headwind facing investors in oil futures, and the surprisingly positive fundamentals for gold.

Post-Obama Haze

2009-01-27

Associate Editor Dave Nadig chats with Editor in Chief Matt Hougan about the recent strength in gold and copper in the post-inauguration, pre-GDP world.

It's All Relative

2009-01-12

Relative pricing is featured by Managing Editor Brad Zigler who sees refining profit margins on the rise. That makes seasonal crack spreads and pure refiner plays very attractive. Silver, too, continues to gain on gold, creating ratio trade opportunities.

2009: Looking Ahead

2009-01-07

In this special edition of the HardAssetsInvestor.com podcast series, Associate Editor Dave Nadig sits down with Editor-in-Chief Matt Hougan to talk about what lies ahead for commodities investors in 2009.

2008: That's A Wrap!

2009-01-05

The last gasp of the 2008 oil market set up an impressive starting rally for 2009. Managing Editor Brad Zigler looks back at the gold and oil markets to see the shape of things to come.

Word of the Week

2008-12-15

What do you get when you mix low shipping rates and rising social mandates? Managing Editor Brad Zigler figures they both factor into a record-breaking contango in the oil market.

Gold And Oil Supplies Up

2008-12-08

Bad economic numbers last week failed to polish gold's luster. Managing Editor Brad Zigler tells you why, and also explains how oil fund investors are being hit twice by the current price swoon.

Gold Stocks Soar

2008-12-01

Gold stock investors got a holiday gift from equity buyers last week, says Managing Editor Brad Zigler. Stocks outperformed bullion by a fivefold margin. Oil, meantime, is building a big contango. When will the sell-off follow?

Bad Economics, Good Targets?

2008-11-25

Oil is below $50/barrel, the CPI is plunging, and the gold/oil ratio is sky-high. Brad Zigler sets some targets for these key indicators.

Hard Truths, Soft Commodities

2008-11-17

Managing Editor Brad Zigler says gold's reached an equilibrium point, but oil remains technically weak. Soft commodities such as sugar and coffee, however, could be stronger contenders for bulls' money

Gold, Oil and Ethanol

2008-11-10

Gold holds while oil spoils, as Managing Editor Brad Zigler examines the latest developments in the commodities space.

Oil Politics and Cattle Conundrums

2008-11-03

The day before the U.S. Presidential election, Kevin Kerr and Associate Editor Dave Nadig talk about what the candidates mean for oil. They also dig into the inflation/deflation argument for commodities, and the recent run up in cattle.

What Safety Net?

2008-10-27

HardAssetsInvestor.com Managing Editor Brad Zigler digs into gold again, investigating why gold just isn't acting like the “safety” investment so many people expected.

Banking on Gold?

2008-10-20

Managing Editor Brad Zigler digs into what big bullion-holding banks are doing with their gold holdings to extract value from the credit crisis, and wraps up some recent discussion on the long-term trends in energy.

Zigler Looks At Silver Scandal

2008-10-13

Taking issue with Ted Butler, Managing Editor Brad Zigler says the evidence of manipulation in the silver market is thin.

A Wild Week In Commodities

2008-10-06

Managing Editor Brad Zigler examines gold, oil, crack spreads and real estate, and how you should navigate recent turmoil.

Zigler Looks At The Gold/Oil Ratio, As Volatility Goes Wild

2008-09-29

The gold/oil ratio rose last week, said Managing Editor Brad Zigler, but it's in a long-term downtrend. And that is bad news for the economy.

Harvard Thanked Commodities. Will Yale?

2008-09-22

As volatility in the equity markets continues, Managing Editor Brad Zigler considers the fate of Yale's endowment and how it's played the commodities market.

Trading Opportunities In The Commodities Market

2008-09-15

Managing Editor Brad Zigler examines the case for natural gas decoupling, and what that means for investors.

Let Them Eat (Chicago) Wheat

2008-09-08

Managing Editor Brad Zigler heads off to a conference in Kansas City, where commodities - and specifically wheat - are a key topic of discussion.

Natural Gas Spread Looks Attractive

2008-09-02

Managing Editor Brad Zigler tells Matt Hougan why seasonal trends look good for natural gas ... and what investors can do about it.

Gold/Silver Ratio

2008-08-25

Is silver too cheap relative to gold? Managing Editor Brad Zigler examines the charts to divine the prospects for higher silver prices.

Gold And Oil Back Stories

2008-08-19

Managing Editor Brad Zigler flies solo again, pointing out potential crack spread and gold option spread opportunities.

How Is Harvard's Endowment Up 7%-9% This Year?

2008-08-11

Zigler and Hougan discuss Harvard's strong investment returns, and how you can replicate them in a portfolio.

What Do Lease Rates Tell Us About The Gold Market?

2008-08-05

Managing Editor Brad Zigler explains gold leasing and its implications for investors.

Is Indexing To Blame For Commodity Prices?

2008-07-28

Editor-In-Chief Matt Hougan looks at a recent article by Brad Zigler and the recent opinion issued by the CFTC.

ETFs and Commodities: Why Most Are Up But Some Are Down

2008-07-21

Editor-in-Chief Matt Hougan explores the strong performance of most commodity ETFs in the first half of 2008 … and the notably poor performance of three funds. Are high commodity prices finally translating into lower demand?

Oil And A Windy Alternative

2008-07-14

Managing Editor Brad Zigler tips off equity-minded investors on how to hedge away the profit squeeze that's plagued oil stocks. T. Boone Pickens' plan for parlaying wind-generated electricity into oil independence is also examined.

The Arrival Of A $300-A-Barrel Options Contract

2008-07-07

Zigler and Hougan bat around the likelihood of oil reaching $300 a barrel in the wake of a Financial Times story, plus a quick and sobering review of commodities under the Bush administration.

Speculating On Reining In Speculators

2008-06-30

Managing Editor Zigler boils down this week’s congressional speculation hearings, explores ICE trading limits and growth, and new soft commodities ETNs.

A Season For Spreads And Possibly Platinum

2008-06-23

Our take on crack spreads continues—plus, new platinum ETFs and ETNs that are driving prices higher, and commodity allocations for the endowment crowd.

Brad Zigler On Soaring Corn Prices

2008-06-16

Managing editor Brad Zigler discusses the impact of midwest floooding on corn and soybean prices. Also, CFTC regulators, Lieberman's anti-index fund proposal and more.

Brad Zigler Goes Solo on the Soybean Crush

2008-06-09

Managing Editor Zigler works the mike alone to examine the inflation inplications of a narrowing soybean crush. Oil's recent contango is also explained as are the bullish prospects for the U.S. dollar.

Brad Zigler Speculates on Oil Speculation

2008-06-02

Managing Editor Zigler opines on recent oil volatility and the CFTC's manipulation probe. Also, views on bearish and leveraged ETFs/ETNs.

Brad Zigler On The IEA's Embrace Of Peak Oil

2008-05-27

Managing Editor Zigler parses the International Energy Agency supply numbers that roiled the oil market. Also, thoughts on the bullish potential of ethanol and livestock.

Brad Zigler Talks About Gold ... And Gets An Earful

2008-05-16

Managing Editor Zigler reports back from the Hard Assets conference in New York, where participants were very bullish on the future for gold.

Brad Zigler: Are Speculators Driving The Market?

2008-05-09

Managing Editor Zigler discusses the new effort by Congressto clamp down on speculation in the commodities market. Plus, which alternative energy strategy is best!

Brad Zigler: Has The Greenback Been Oversold?

2008-05-02

Managing Editor Zigler uses the gold market to value currencies. Also, thoughts on refining margins and double/inverse ETNs.

Brad Zigler On Picking The Best Commodities Fund

2008-04-21

Zigler says choose carefully among existing ETFs. Plus, thoughts on gas prices, solar energy and more.

Zigler Says MACROs Could Disappear, Markets Uneasy

2008-04-21

In our first podcast, HardAssetsInvestor.com managing editor Brad Zigler calls oil prices "frothy," and says the dollar's drop is a "big factor" in the price of commodities.