What affects the supply of oil? How important is the weather in determining grain prices? Why has the price of copper skyrocketed? This unique book analyses the economics of key commodity groups, including energy, agriculture and metals. It examines the supply/demand fundamentals of several major and minor commodities, physical characteristics, production and consumption patterns, trade flows and pricing mechanisms. It also explains the main tools used to hedge price risk, such as futures, options and swaps. This second edition has been fully revised and restructured, and contains four new chapters, including oil refining, electricity and price risk management for energy, metals and agricultural commodities This book is an indispensable reference text for students, academics and those working in the commodity business.

The early 21st century has seen a prolonged price boom in non-fuel commodities, coupled with a volatile performance in fuel prices. This new collection presents the latest research on commodity prices and economic development in the context of this changing globalized economy. Global Commodity Markets and Development Economics brings together analyses from a number of perspectives in order to explore commodity price developments. Chapters explore long term commodity trends, the evolution of relative price developments, the relationship of the domestic commodity sector with global supply chains, agri-food prices, and the role of oil markets in the global economy. Through considering a diverse range of countries including China, Russia and the United States, the authors examine key fuel and non-fuel commodity markets and offer a window into important trends and developments. This book will be relevant to those with an interest in development economics, international economics and energy markets.

The phenomenon of collusive international agreements (cartels) became widespread in the 1930s. At that time, attempts to control production and prices were mainly the prerogative of multinational firms operating in the developing (then colonized) world. The "modern era" of cartels began in the 1960s, when the governments of developing nations began to participate in commodity agreements to achieve increases and stability in the world price of their commodities. This book is principally concerned with the modern era of cartels. It goes beyond the singular example of petroleum and OPEC to examine the structure of international commodity markets for bauxite (aluminum ore), cocoa, coffee, rubber, sugar, and tin, and the conditions that led to the formation of cartels in those markets during the latter half of the twentieth century. Specifically, the work focuses on four major aspects of international commodity markets: patterns of production and consumption; economic dislocations to both importers and exporters due to price fluctuations; the formation of cartels as a solution to weak and variable commodity prices; and the likely effects arising from tightening raw material markets. The book concludes with a detailed examination of what the future holds for each of the cartels, and what role technology, 24-hour market trading, and decreasing foreign direct investment in producing countries will have on the management of commodity markets.

The collapse of Souq Al-Manakh in Kuwait in August 1982 was the most spectacular financial crash of recent years. The market had developed as a parallel stock exchange dealing in the shares of Gulf companies not resident in Kuwait. Fuelled by manic speculation, the market grew at a phenomenal rate throughout 1981 and early 1982. Inexperienced investors gambled huge sums on the shares of shell companies promoted largely for share speculation. At the height of the market US$92 billion was outstanding on nearly 30,000 postdated cheques, the usual form of payment used in the market. The financial crisis created by the collapse of the Souq Al-Manakh threatened the stability of Kuwait. The government was forced to intervene and absorb the major part of the loss. This book, first published in 1986, traces the growth of the stock market and analyses its collapse. It also discusses in detail the wider impact of this debacle on the economic life of the Gulf.

For undergraduate investment courses. The core concepts and tools students need to make informed investment decisions Fundamentals of Investing uses practical, hands-on applications and examples to introduce the topics and techniques used by both personal investors and money managers. The text focuses on both individual securities and portfolios, teaching students to consider the risk and return of different types of investments and how to use this knowledge to achieve financial goals. A consistent framework centered around learning objectives keeps readers focused in each chapter while a conversational tone makes the language, concepts, and strategies accessible to students. With new topics and features added to the 14th Edition, Global Edition, the text remains up-to-date and relevant, so students leave the course equipped to develop, implement, and monitor a successful investment program.

The collapse of Souq Al-Manakh in Kuwait in August 1982 was the most spectacular financial crash of recent years. The market had developed as a parallel stock exchange dealing in the shares of Gulf companies not resident in Kuwait. Fuelled by manic speculation, the market grew at a phenomenal rate throughout 1981 and early 1982. Inexperienced investors gambled huge sums on the shares of shell companies promoted largely for share speculation. At the height of the market US$92 billion was outstanding on nearly 30,000 postdated cheques, the usual form of payment used in the market. The financial crisis created by the collapse of the Souq Al-Manakh threatened the stability of Kuwait. The government was forced to intervene and absorb the major part of the loss. This book, first published in 1986, traces the growth of the stock market and analyses its collapse. It also discusses in detail the wider impact of this debacle on the economic life of the Gulf.

Praise for Pattern, Price & Time Second Edition

"Jim's breadth of knowledge spans futures, Forex, stocks, Gann, charting, price patterns, and the list goes on and on. He is a valued contributor to the TraderPlanet.com community and this book further demonstrates his unwavering commitment to educating traders to help them become more successful."
--Lane J. Mendelsohn, Publisher, TraderPlanet.com

"James Hyerczyk provides an illuminating guide to the fascinating world of Gann Theory and the combined analysis of price, pattern, and time. This book is very interesting from both a historical and practical technical perspective."
--Dan Blystone, Editor, TradersLog.com

"I have known James Hyerczyk since 1991. I have always valued W. D. Gann's methods. Reading Jim's book, Pattern, Price & Time, Second Edition is a good way to get started in learning the concepts of Gann's methodology. I highly recommend this book."

---Michael Popilchak, Director of Sales & Marketing, The Sweet Futures Division of Rosenthal Collins Group LLC

"Hunting out good opportunities involves good tracking. Jim has taken his vast experience with Gann's proven technical analysis, to show the savvy investor the foot prints in the snow to find those successful trades. As the Chief Investment Officer of LaSalle St. Securities, I have found over the last thirty-five years that good technical analysis is invaluable."
--Jay C. Carstensen, Chief Investment Officer, LaSalle St. Securities, LLC

First published in 1972, this book provides an important critical review on the theory of futures trading. B. A. Goss looks at the work and ideas of Keynes and Hicks on futures, and considers how these have also been developed by Kaldor. He discusses the evolution of the concept of hedging in the context of buying forward into the markets, and considers theories of market and individual equilibrium. Goss draws on the work of other economists in this field, including Stein, Telser, Peston and L. L. Johnson, in order to illustrate the development of theory in futures trading. The book includes fifteen figures that illustrate diagrammatically the concepts involved, and the concluding section contains a series of problems for examination by the student.

First published in 1986, this book discusses many important aspects of the theory and practice of Futures Markets. It describes how they, at the time, grew to be an increasingly important feature of the world's major financial centres. Indeed, they adopted the role of being efficient forward pricing mechanisms and this was reflected by the interest of economists in the study of risk, uncertainty and information. Here, the contributors focus on areas that were of concern in the late 1980s such as feasibility, forward pricing and returns, and the modelling of price determination in Futures Markets. Evidence is drawn from twenty-five different commodities representing all the major commodity groups; and from all the world's major centres of Futures Trading.

Covers all the major commodity markets, their products, applications and risks Learn how to invest, hedge and trade in the related physical, equities and derivatives markets Commodities such as oil and gas, food and water, solar and wind power, metals and minerals, animals and fish have become a genuine asset class alongside bonds, equities, and foreign exchange. Mastering the Commodities Markets is an introduction to both the general commodity markets and to specific products: precious metals, oil and other hydrocarbons, rare earth elements, aqua and agriculture, alternative energy and carbon and environmental commodities. Beginning with the basics of commodities and how they have developed as an asset class in their own right, the book then introduces key commodities chapter by chapter, looking at the background and context of each product, their origins and manufacture, key market participants, pricing structures and patterns, risks and how to trade, hedge and use indices. Mastering Commodities Markets includes: Commodity prices and their effect on financial markets Financial and non-financial market participants Economics of commodities, pricing mechanics and markets Trading, hedging, arbitrage and investing Commodity Indices

The shocking truth about where the markets are headed and why owning physical gold-not paper assets-is a far better strategy to building real wealth. An indispensable resource for the everyday investor, Gold Is A Better Way turns the strategies recommended by Wall Street on their head and makes the case for a return to sound investing. Adam Baratta strips away all the confusion and complexities surrounding investing and breaks down investment concepts and the simple fundamentals driving markets. He provides a roadmap for how to win at the game of investing and, more importantly, explains the "why" so readers can continue to win. Everyday investors gain tools that allow them to know with certainty they are making sound investment decisions, as well as an understanding of where to diversify investments that have historically performed well. There is a massive environmental shift happening in financial markets. Interest rates are rising and what has been very easy for investors in the past is about to become very hard. Everything people think they know about investing is being turned on its head. It's time to change investing behavior. "A fresh new voice in the world of gold . . . Baratta's book and cutting edge platform make the undeniable case why gold demands consideration in every portfolio." -ZeroHedge

"Trading Catalysts takes you into the market and recounts moment-by-moment price action. From an almost 14% rise in the Nasdaq following a surprise Fed rate cut to an incredible (and temporary) 22% decline in the S&P 500 futures price folliwng a single large sell order, Trading Catalysts is loaded witih real-life examples of how events move markets. Must reading for traders and investors alike." --Victor Canto, Pd.D., founder of La Jolla Economics and a columnist for The National Review "At last...an invaluable investment book that shows in detail how markets actually behaved during extreme events, times when fortunes were won or lost in the blink of an eye. This is the real world of trading and risk, not academic theory. Read, learn and prepare yourself because these types of extraordinary events will happen again." --Peter Matthews, Managing Partner, Optimation Investment Management LLC Understand the Triggers of Market Volatility-and Take Advantage of Them Actionable lessons from 25 years of major events-and the market's reactions to them Predicting the market impact of everything from Fed statements to natural disasters Separating real information from noise, major "market movers" from trivia In Trading Catalysts, Robert I. Webb examines the various factors that move markets. Webb focuses on the catalysts that spark the biggest price changes-and the greatest potential for substantial profits or losses. Using numerous real market examples, Webb demonstrates the often inconsistent response of prices to similar trading catalysts across markets and over time, the occasional significantly delayed response, and the frequent market overreaction. Whether traders bet directly on a trading catalyst, on the presumed market reaction (or overreaction) to it, or not at all, the potential impact on market prices and volatility means that all traders must pay attention to trading catalysts and the market reactions that they induce. At the very least, the prospect of significant volatility around some event may affect the timing of a trader's entry or exit of positions and may cause a trader to reduce his position size. If you're a serious trader, this book will help you understand the influence of trading catalysts and identify potential trading opportunities. Volatile financial markets create both the risk of substantial losses and the opportunity for substantial gains. Sudden jumps or breaks in prices can impart a roller-coaster-ride-like quality to trading or investing in financial markets. Trading Catalysts is the first complete guide to the events that spark large changes in prices. These include: central bank actions; ill-advised comments by policymakers; news of natural disasters; elections; certain economic reports; terrorism; company specific announcements; the unwinding of large positions by key market participants; and simple trading errors among others. The varied origin of trading catalysts means that some traders may have an edge in anticipating the market's reaction to certain trading catalysts. Numerous real market examples take the reader into the heart of the market to illustrate the direction, magnitude, speed, duration, intensity and breadthof influence of trading catalysts on market prices. Because a minute can be a "lifetime" in the world of trading, many of the detailed examples recount moment-by-moment and tick-by-tick changes in market prices. This book discusses the role that trading theses(or prevailing beliefs about market relationships), market conditions,and sentimentplay in determining how prices react and sometimes overreact to various trading catalysts over time. Trading Catalysts will help readers anticipate potential events that could spark rallies or breaks; predict situations with feedback loops that drive markets up or down; and identify situations where substantial overreactions are likely to occur. Size Matters: When key players unwind positions and move the markets The Information in Economic Reports: Rout or Rally? Uncertain market reaction to the forecast errors from economic reports Talk Isn't Cheap: When the comments of politicians and policymakers move markets Market Interventions: When governments intervene: case studies, from currencies to oil Geopolitical Risk: From elections to terrorism to wars Bubbles, Crashes, Corners, and Market Crises: Lessons from the "silver corner," the 1987 stock market crash, and the Asian Financial Crisis Quantifying the Market Impact of Natural Disasters: From earthquakes to floods to mad cow disease Fat Fingers: When trading errors and mistranslations move the market Of Straws and Camels' Backs: When trivial news sparks huge moves Preface Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Market Conditions and Sentiment Chapter 3: Talk Isn't Cheap Chapter 4: Geopolitical Events Chapter 5: Weather and Natural Disasters Chapter 6: Market Interventions Chapter 7: Periodic Economic Reports Chapter 8: Size Matters Chapter 9: Bubbles, Crashes, Corners, and Market Crises Chapter 10: The Accidental Catalyst Index

This book deals with commodity price stabilization. It explores the contemporary changes in global trade agreements and their relationship to the ongoing changes in international and regional trade structures and economic integration. It takes a wholistic, interdisciplinary approach, including economic, legal and political aspects; examines the EC and NAFTA as important trade blocs, and their impact on global economies. Investigates the Chinese approach to trade management, the oil price stabilization policies, and seabed minerals; discusses discrimination in international trade.

The interdisciplinary nature of the book is given prominence through the layout of the various parts. Part I examines the legal issues of commodity trade, investigating the debate over whether international trade agreements create hard law or soft law. Part II discusses the political economy of contemporary global trade issues, including the rise of intraindustry trade and discrimination in international trade. Part III addresses the recent trend towards regionalism and trade blocs, focusing on the EC and NAFTA, and their economic implications. Finally, Part IV presents the issues of commodity trade stabilization for minerals and oil, including both land-based and seabed commodities.

An in-depth survey of the major commodities of the world
* Profiles each commodity in detail
* Provides in-depth statistics on production
* Includes an invaluable directory
Contents:
* Introductory essays
* Covers all major agricultural and mineral products including aluminium, coal, cotton, nickel, petroleum, bananas, rice, rubber, tea, coffee, tobacco, wheat, natural gas, soybeans, zinc, lead and phosphates
* Each commodity is profiled in detail with information on physical appearance, history, uses, major markets, trends in demand, major importers and exporters
* Statistical details of recent levels of production at a global and individual country level
* Recent trends in prices with indexes of export prices
* A directory of organizations concerned with commodities.

The phenomenon of collusive international agreements (cartels) became widespread in the 1930s. At that time, attempts to control production and prices were mainly the prerogative of multinational firms operating in the developing (then colonized) world. The "modern era" of cartels began in the 1960s, when the governments of developing nations began to participate in commodity agreements to achieve increases and stability in the world price of their commodities. This book is principally concerned with the modern era of cartels. It goes beyond the singular example of petroleum and OPEC to examine the structure of international commodity markets for bauxite (aluminum ore), cocoa, coffee, rubber, sugar, and tin, and the conditions that led to the formation of cartels in those markets during the latter half of the twentieth century. Specifically, the work focuses on four major aspects of international commodity markets: patterns of production and consumption; economic dislocations to both importers and exporters due to price fluctuations; the formation of cartels as a solution to weak and variable commodity prices; and the likely effects arising from tightening raw material markets. The book concludes with a detailed examination of what the future holds for each of the cartels, and what role technology, 24-hour market trading, and decreasing foreign direct investment in producing countries will have on the management of commodity markets.

Can private standards bring about more sustainable production practices? This question is of interest to conscientious consumers, academics studying the effectiveness of private regulation, and corporate social responsibility practitioners alike. Grabs provides an answer by combining an impact evaluation of 1,900 farmers with rich qualitative evidence from the coffee sectors of Honduras, Colombia and Costa Rica. Identifying an institutional design dilemma that private sustainability standards encounter as they scale up, this book shows how this dilemma plays out in the coffee industry. It highlights how the erosion of price premiums and the adaptation to buyers' preferences have curtailed standards' effectiveness in promoting sustainable practices that create economic opportunity costs for farmers, such as agroforestry or agroecology. It also provides a voice for coffee producers and value chain members to explain why the current system is failing in its mission to provide environmental, social, and economic co-benefits, and what changes are necessary to do better.

Gold Is A Better Way is a financially enlightening guide that reveals the shocking truth about where the markets are headed. It also reveals why owning physical gold is a far better strategy to building real wealth as opposed to the inflated paper assets Wall Street recommends. There is a massive environmental shift happening in financial markets today. Interest rates are rising and what has been very easy for investors in the past is about to become very hard. Everything people think they know about investing is being turned on its head. It's time to change investing behavior. A self-help book for the everyday investor, Gold Is A Better Way is a metaphor for sound investing. Adam Baratta strips away all the confusion and complexities surrounding investing and breaks down investment concepts and the simple fundamentals driving markets. He provides a roadmap for how to win at the game of investing and, more importantly, explains the "why" so readers can continue to win. Everyday investors gain tools that allow them to know with certainty they are making sound investment decisions, as well as an understanding of where to diversify investments that have historically performed well.There's no changing behavior without changing beliefs. Gold Is A Better Way offers a fresh investment strategy and makes the case for a return to sound investing, turning the strategies recommended by Wall Street on their head as financial conditions become tighter and tighter.

Don’t spend your time worrying whether you can beat the markets: you don’t need to beat them to be a successful investor. By showing you how to build a simple and rational portfolio and tailor it to your specific needs, Investing Demystified will help you generate superior returns.

With his straightforward and jargon-free advice, Lars Kroijer simplies the often complex world of finance and tells you everything you need to know – and everything that you don’t need to worry about – in order to make the most from your investments.

In Investing Demystified you will:

• Discover the mix of stocks, bonds and cash needed for a top performing portfolio

• Learn why the most broadly diversified and simplest portfolio makes the most sense

• Understand the right level of risk for you and how this affects your investments

• Find out why a low cost approach will yield benefits whilst leaving you with a higher quality portfolio

• Understand the implications of tax and liquidity

Commodities have become an important component of many investors' portfolios and the focus of much political controversy over the past decade. This book utilizes structural models to provide a better understanding of how commodities' prices behave and what drives them. It exploits differences across commodities and examines a variety of predictions of the models to identify where they work and where they fail. The findings of the analysis are useful to scholars, traders and policy makers who want to better understand often puzzling - and extreme - movements in the prices of commodities from aluminium to oil to soybeans to zinc.

A rigorous but practical introduction to the economic, financial, and political principles underlying commodity markets. Commodities have become one of the fastest growing asset classes of the last decade and the object of increasing attention from investors, scholars, and policy makers. Yet existing treatments of the topic are either too theoretical, ignoring practical realities, or largely narrative and nonrigorous. This book bridges the gap, striking a balance between theory and practice. It offers a solid foundation in the economic, financial, and political principles underlying commodities markets. The book, which grows out of courses taught by the author at Columbia and Johns Hopkins, can be used by graduate students in economics, finance, and public policy, or as a conceptual reference for practitioners. After an introduction to basic concepts and a review of the various types of commodities-energy, metals, agricultural products-the book delves into the economic and financial dynamics of commodity markets, with a particular focus on energy. The text covers fundamental demand and supply for resources, the mechanics behind commodity financial markets, and how they motivate investment decisions around both physical and financial portfolio exposure to commodities, and the evolving political and regulatory landscape for commodity markets. Additional special topics include geopolitics, financial regulation, and electricity markets. The book is divided into thematic modules that progress in complexity. Text boxes offer additional, related material, and numerous charts and graphs provide further insight into important concepts.