Commodity exchange traded funds (ETFs) are making some portfolios shine. Gold, silver and oil have had successful histories and unique cycles. The streetTracks Gold Shares Fund (GLD) was the first ETF to track a commodity and it has been golden, reports Zoe Van Schyndel of the Motley Fool. In April, Barclays started iShares Silver Trust (SLV) for those investors who want to further their diversification.
Oil is a commodity linked close to supply and demand and the demand will always be around. The United States Oil Fund (USO) gives direct access to the performance of crude oil by investing in energy futures contracts. This ETF gives the most direct exposure to crude prices.
The value of these commodities is that they give exposure to a broad basket of commodities, at a low cost. There are risks in investing in these areas too, so be sure they fit into your portfolio and risk level.
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.