Best and Worst Commodities of 2011
Commodities are something many investors can relate to. What's not to like about gold, crude oil or cocoa?
Some commodities have been on a tear in recent months, while others not so much. In fact, the Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index, a global commodity benchmark tracking 19 commodities that are mostly U.S. traded, was down about 7 percent in 2011.
In 2010, the CRB index rose by 15 percent compared with a 13 percent gain for the S&P 500. Several individual commodities continue to greatly outperform the broader market year-to-date, affecting 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 for this year, based on the closing prices on Dec. 28.
By Giovanny Moreano
Posted 30 December 2011
BEST - 5. Crude Oil
% Chg in 2011: 8.7%
Closing Price: $99.36 / barrel
52-Week High: $114.83
52-Week Low: $74.95
Related ETF: BNO, +19%
BEST - 4. RBOB Gasoline
% Chg in 2011: 9%
Closing Price: $2.6513 / gallon
52-Week High: $3.4155
52-Week Low: $2.3597
Related ETF: DBE, +3%
BEST - 3. Gold
% Chg in 2011: 10%
Closing Price: $1,564 / ounce
52-Week High: $1923.7
52-Week Low: $1307.7
Related ETF: GLD, +8%
BEST - 2. Live Cattle
% Chg in 2011: 13.7%
Closing Price: $123.15 / pound
52-Week High: $125.38
52-Week Low: $101.98
Related ETN: COW, -3%
BEST - 1. Heating Oil
% Chg in 2011: 13.8%
Closing Price: $2.8934 / gallon
52-Week High: $3.33
52-Week Low: $2.4678
Related ETF: UHN, +10%
WORST - 5. LME Nickel
% Chg in 2011: -26%
Closing Price: $18,410 / metric ton
52-Week High: $29,300
52-Week Low: $16,785
Related ETN: JJN, -29%
WORST - 4. Sugar
% Chg in 2011: -28%
Closing Price: $23.13 / pound
52-Week High: $36.08
52-Week Low: $20.4
Related ETF: SGG, -12%
WORST - 3. Cocoa
% Chg in 2011: -29.7%
Closing Price: $2,133 / metric ton
52-Week High: $3,775
52-Week Low: $1,983
Related ETN: NIB, -35%
WORST - 2. Natural Gas
% Chg in 2011: -30%
Closing Price: $3.084 / per million BTUs
52-Week High: $4.983
52-Week Low: $3.001
Related ETF: UNG, -45%
WORST - 1. Cotton
% Chg in 2011: -37.4%
Closing Price: $90.68 / pound
52-Week High: $219.7
52-Week Low: $84.35
Related ETN: BAL, -23%