Commodity markets are markets where raw or primary products are exchanged. These raw commodities are traded on regulated commodities exchanges, in which they are bought and sold in standardized Contracts.

This article focuses on the history and current debates regarding global commodity markets. It covers physical product (food, metals, electricity) markets but not the ways that services, including those of governments, nor investment, nor debt, can be seen as a commodity. Articles on reinsurance markets, stock markets, bond markets and currency markets cover those concerns separately and in more depth. One focus of this article is the relationship between simple commodity money and the more complex instruments offered in the commodity markets.

See List of traded commodities for some commodities and their trading units and places

More on [ Commodity markets ]

MarketWatch.com - MarketPulse

Commonwealth Bank buys 2 Australian units of HBOS
Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:51:56 -0000
HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- The Commonwealth Bank of Australia Wednesday said it has acquired the Bank of Western Australia, or BankWest, and St Andrews's Australia Pty from U.K.'s HBOS Plc. for A$2.1 billion ($1.5 billion). The Australian lender said the purchase strengthens its competitive position in the fast-growing Western Australian market. The purchase agreement doesn't extend to HBOS's other Australian businesses such as Capital Finance Australia, BOS International (Australia) and HBOS's treasury operations in Australia, it added. Trading in CBA shares will be halted in Sydney on Wednesday and Thursday, pending a A$2 billion placement of securities, whose proceeds will be used to fund the acquisition.Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.
Toyota's 2008 operating profit expected to drop 40%: Nikkei
Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:49:17 -0000
HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s consolidated operating profit for the fiscal year ending in March is expected to decline 40% from its earlier forecast as the global financial crisis dampens global auto demand and higher commodity prices squeeze margins, according to a Japanese media report Wednesday. Toyota's consolidated operating profit is likely to amount to 1.3 trillion yen ($12.9 billion), down from its earlier forecast of 1.6 trillion yen, the Nikkei newspaper reported, without citing its source. The automaker is likely to have trouble achieving its global sales target of 9.5 million units, or about 25 trillion yen, because of falling demand in the U.S. and slower growth in China, the report said. Toyota's North American sales are likely to shrink to under 14 million units, from 16 million units a year earlier. Toyota shares were down 6.2% in late morning Tokyo trading.Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.
Asian stocks bleed in early trading
Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:46:07 -0000
HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Asian markets tumbled early Wednesday, with financials such as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and National Australia Bank sliding after steep losses on Wall Street overnight. Toyota Motor Corp. slumped on a newspaper report that the automobile giant was expected to post a 40% drop in operating profit, while resource stocks such as BHP Billiton shrank on concerns that global demand for commodities could weaken. The Nikkei 225 Average slumped 4.4% to 9,705.87, and the broader Topix index shed 3.7% to 941.97. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 plummeted 4.1% to 4,431.10 and South Korea's Kospi lost 3.1% to 1,323.94. New Zealand's NZX 50 index gave up 2.1% to 2,940.51.Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

Elliott Wave International NewsWire

Russian Stocks: From Boom To Bust
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:27:10 -0500
In the last month, Russia (a.k.a. “the Lungs of Europe”) has come down with an acute case of financial pneumonia. Every effort to clear the airways -- from NINE shut downs of the Russian Trading System Index (RTSI) to $150 billion in cash infusions -- has been for not. Moscow’s main bourse continues to choke, culminating in the code blue event of “Black Monday” (October 6)...
U.S. Dollar: The REAL Bear Market Maverick
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:05:30 -0500
Despite all "fundamental" odds, since mid-July, the U.S. dollar has been gaining strength. The euro vs. dollar exchange rate, known in forex trading world as the EURUSD, has fallen from near $1.60 mid-summer to below $1.35 on October 6. This chart illustrates this incredible 25-cent gain by the greenback...
Have You Reached the "Point of Recognition"?
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:21:58 -0500
With the Dow dropping more than 800 points over two days, people are reaching the "point of recognition" when they can see that the stock market is moving strongly in one direction.

FT.com - Commodities News and Market Data

Risk aversion ensures gold rush continues
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:12:55 +0100
Commodities markets steadied on Tuesday after sharp falls in the previous session amid the ongoing storm sweeping global financial markets. As a result bullion rose 2.5 per cent
Central banks all but stop lending bullion
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:44:29 +0100
The recent move reflects fears that bank borrowers might default, writes Javier Blas
UN agency calls for rethink on biofuels
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:21:08 +0100
The west needs to rethink its rush to biofuels, which has done more harm pushing up food prices than it has good by reducing greenhouse gases, a United Nations report says

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