Biggest Commodity Price Movers
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 2011
Note: Original prices listed are intraday prices as of 10:10 a.m. on Aug. 8. Prices are subject to change throughout the day.
10. Natural Gas
Percent Change in 2011: -10.2 percentÂ
Closing Price: $3.916/million thermal units
52-Week High: $4.847
52-Week Low: $3.292
Related Exchange Traded Fund (ETF): GAZ, -19%Â year-to-date (YTD)
Click here for the most recent commodity prices
9. Corn
Percent Change in 2011: +11.8 percentÂ
Closing Price: $7.03/bushel
52-Week High: $7.87
52-Week Low: $4.09
Related ETF: CORN, +17 percent YTD
Click here for the most recent commodity prices
8. Heating Oil
Percent Change in 2011: +13.5 percentÂ
Closing Price: $2.8748/gallon
52-Week High: $3.3197
52-Week Low: $1.9537
Related ETF: UHN, +10 percent YTD
Click here for the most recent commodity prices
7. RBOB Gasoline
Percent Change in 2011: +13.6 percentÂ
Closing Price: $2.7520/gallon
52-Week High: $3.3984
52-Week Low: $1.8093
Related ETF: UGA, +12% YTD
Click here for the most recent commodity prices
6. Wheat
Percent Change in 2011: -14.5 percentÂ
Closing Price: $6.79/bushel
52-Week High: $8.86
52-Week Low: $6.1225
Related ETF: JJG, -7 percent
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5. Lean Hogs
Percent Change in 2011: +15 percentÂ
Closing Price: $90.85/pound
52-Week High: $102.03
52-Week Low: $65.2
Related ETF: GSG, -6 percent YTD
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4. Sugar
Percent Change in 2011: -17 percentÂ
Closing Price: $26.71/pound
52-Week High: $35.31
52-Week Low: $17.73
Related ETF: SGG, -4 percent YTD
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3. Gold
Percent Change in 2011: +20 percentÂ
Closing Price: $1,701.2/ounce
52-Week High: $1,716.7
52-Week Low: $1,198
Related ETF: GLD, +20 percent YTD
Click here for the most recent commodity prices
2. Silver
Percent Change in 2011: +27 percentÂ
Closing Price: $39.47/ounce
52-Week High: $48.583
52-Week Low: $17.902
Related ETF: SLV, +27 percent YTD
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1. Cotton
Percent Change in 2011: -31 percentÂ
Closing Price: $1.0004/pound
52-Week High: $2.1414
52-Week Low: $0.8006
Related ETF: BAL, -16 percent YTD
Click here for the most recent commodity prices