10 Commodities With the Biggest Price Moves

Photo: Creativ Studio Heinemann | Getty Images Commodities are sought after by investors. What's not to like about corn, crude oil, or gold?Some commodities have been on a tear in recent months, while others have significantly fallen off their highs. In fact, the Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index, a global commodity benchmark tracking 19 commodities mostly traded in the U.S., is down 32 percent from its all-time high back in July 2008. So far in 2011, the CRB index is off 3.8 percent, compared with an 8.2 percent loss for the S&P 500. Despite that trend, several individual commodities continue to sharply outperform the broader market year-to-date, boosting equities and indexes particularly exposed to fluctuating commodity prices. CNBC’s Analytics Team compiled a list of the 10 best and worst performing commodities in the CRB index, based on the closing prices on Aug. 5, 2011. Click ahead to learn about the hot, and not so hot, commodities of 2011. By Giovanny Moreano Posted 8 Aug 2011Note: Original prices listed are intraday prices as of 10:10 a.m. on Aug. 8. Prices are subject to change throughout the day.

Photo: Cameron Davidson | Workbook Stock | Getty Images Percent Change in 2011: -10.2 percent Closing Price: $3.916/million thermal units 52-Week High: $4.847 52-Week Low: $3.292 Related Exchange Traded Fund (ETF): GAZ, -19% year-to-date (YTD)Click here for the most recent commodity prices

Photo: Martin Child | Photodisc | Getty Images Percent Change in 2011: +11.8 percent Closing Price: $7.03/bushel 52-Week High: $7.87 52-Week Low: $4.09 Related ETF: CORN, +17 percent YTDClick here for the most recent commodity prices

Photo: Michael Fein | Bloomberg Getty Images Percent Change in 2011: +13.5 percent Closing Price: $2.8748/gallon52-Week High: $3.3197 52-Week Low: $1.9537 Related ETF: UHN, +10 percent YTDClick here for the most recent commodity prices

Photo: Getty Images Percent Change in 2011: +13.6 percent Closing Price: $2.7520/gallon 52-Week High: $3.3984 52-Week Low: $1.8093Related ETF: UGA, +12% YTDClick here for the most recent commodity prices

Photo: Getty Image Percent Change in 2011: -14.5 percent Closing Price: $6.79/bushel 52-Week High: $8.86 52-Week Low: $6.1225 Related ETF: JJG, -7 percentClick here for the most recent commodity prices

Photo: GeoStock | Photodisc | Getty Images Percent Change in 2011: +15 percent Closing Price: $90.85/pound 52-Week High: $102.03 52-Week Low: $65.2 Related ETF: GSG, -6 percent YTD Click here for the most recent commodity prices

Photo: Getty Images Percent Change in 2011: -17 percent Closing Price: $26.71/pound 52-Week High: $35.31 52-Week Low: $17.73 Related ETF: SGG, -4 percent YTDClick here for the most recent commodity prices

Photo: Getty Images Percent Change in 2011: +20 percent Closing Price: $1,701.2/ounce 52-Week High: $1,716.7 52-Week Low: $1,198 Related ETF: GLD, +20 percent YTDClick here for the most recent commodity prices

Photo: David Muir | Photographer’s Choice | Getty Images Percent Change in 2011: +27 percent Closing Price: $39.47/ounce 52-Week High: $48.583 52-Week Low: $17.902Related ETF: SLV, +27 percent YTDClick here for the most recent commodity prices

Photo: Getty Images Percent Change in 2011: -31 percent Closing Price: $1.0004/pound 52-Week High: $2.1414 52-Week Low: $0.8006 Related ETF: BAL, -16 percent YTDClick here for the most recent commodity prices

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