Commodities are all the rage right now, to the point where there’s been talk of a bubble. But some feel that not only is there no bubble, but that commodity exchange traded funds (ETFs) are poised to move even higher.
As the commodity market sets up to appeal to investors, there are certain areas of the market to focus in on.
According to Lee Lowell for Investment U, these are three areas poised to move:
Gold. Gold is one area that has not disappointed. Gold has regained the elusive $1,000 per ounce and has motored to all-time highs of more than $1,060 per ounce. The U.S. dollar remains weak, giving weight to the argument that gold still has some shine left yet. Some analysts are even calling for the $2,000 per ounce mark. (What you can do if there’s a bubble).
- SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEArca: GLD): up 16.4% year-to-date
Silver. Silver has rallied back to the $18 per ounce area – a new high for the year, but still $4 per ounce below its all-time high of $22 from February 2008. That being said, it has handily outperformed gold this year. If gold continues to move, silver should follow. Because the silver market is smaller than gold’s, it can be volatile, so watch the trend lines and pay attention to the 200-day moving average. (Can silver benefit from inflationary pressures?)
- iShares Silver Trust (NYSEArca: SLV): up 41.6% year-to-date
The colder winter months lie ahead, making the case for natural gas stronger. Natural gas has finally moved off the lows it has logged since the highs of 2008. After bottoming in price just a few weeks ago, natural gas has rallied back up to levels last seen in early August. Bulls and bears are duking it out, though: the large amount of reserves in natural gas are re-enforcing the bears case for a pullback in this commodity. Bulls think winter will eat up those reserves. (A tale of two natural gas ETFs).
- United States Natural Gas (NYSEArca: UNG): down 55.3% year-to-date
For more stories about commodities, visit our commodity ETF category.
For disclosure, Tom Lydon’s clients own shares of GLD.
The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.