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A Reappraisal of Investing in Commodity Futures Markets

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  • Dwight R. Sanders
  • Scott H. Irwin

Abstract

Investments into commodity-linked products have grown considerably in recent years. Unlike investments in equities, commodity futures markets produce no earnings; the source of returns is thus unclear. This paper examines returns to static long-only U.S. commodity futures investments over five decades and finds that returns to individual futures markets are zero, and the returns to futures market portfolios depend critically on portfolio weighting schemes. Historical portfolio returns are not statistically different from zero and are driven by price episodes such as that of 1972-1974. In other periods, portfolio returns are zero or negative. Overall, the case for long-only investment in commodities may not be as strong as that implied in some studies (e.g., Gorton and Rouwenhorst, 2006a). If so, the growth in long-only commodity investments may naturally subside and ease the policy debate regarding speculative position limits.

Suggested Citation

  • Dwight R. Sanders & Scott H. Irwin, 2012. "A Reappraisal of Investing in Commodity Futures Markets," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 34(3), pages 515-530.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:apecpp:v:34:y:2012:i:3:p:515-530.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/aepp/pps026
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    Cited by:

    1. Chad E. Hart & Sergio H. Lence & Dermot J. Hayes & Na Jin, 2016. "Price Mean Reversion, Seasonality, and Options Markets," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 98(3), pages 707-725.
    2. Colin A. Carter & Gordon C. Rausser & Aaron Smith, 2017. "Commodity Storage and the Market Effects of Biofuel Policies," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 99(4), pages 1027-1055.
    3. repec:zbw:iamodp:169081 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Prehn, Sören & Glauben, Thomas & Loy, Jens-Peter & Pies, Ingo & Will, Matthias Georg, 2014. "The impact of long-only index funds on price discovery and market performance in agricultural futures markets," IAMO Discussion Papers 169081, Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO).
    5. Yan, Lei & Garcia, Philip, 2017. "Portfolio investment: Are commodities useful?," Journal of Commodity Markets, Elsevier, vol. 8(C), pages 43-55.
    6. Prehn, S. & Glauben, T. & Loy, J.-P. & Pies, I. & Will, M.G., 2015. "Der Einfluss von long-only-Indexfonds auf die Preisbildung und das Marktergebnis an landwirtschaftlichen Warenterminmärkten," Proceedings “Schriften der Gesellschaft für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften des Landbaues e.V.”, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA), vol. 50, March.
    7. Main, Scott & Irwin, Scott H. & Sanders, Dwight R. & Smith, Aaron, 2018. "Financialization and the returns to commodity investments," Journal of Commodity Markets, Elsevier, vol. 10(C), pages 22-28.
    8. Schroeder, Ted C. & Tonsor, Glynn T. & Coffey, Brian K., 2019. "Commodity futures with thinly traded cash markets: The case of live cattle," Journal of Commodity Markets, Elsevier, vol. 15(C), pages 1-1.
    9. Anna Szczepanska-Przekota, 2020. "Conditions of Agriculture Compared to Economic Growth in Selected Countries," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 1), pages 693-707.
    10. Renata Guobužaitė & Deimantė Teresienė, 2021. "Can Economic Factors Improve Momentum Trading Strategies? The Case of Managed Futures during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-16, May.
    11. Quanbiao Shang & Teresa Serra & Philip Garcia, 2023. "Ride the trend: Is there spread momentum profit in the US commodity markets?," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(1), pages 24-47, February.
    12. Prehn, Soren & Glauben, Thomas & Loy, Jens-Peter & Pies, Ingo & Will, Matthias Georg, 2014. "Der Einfluss Von Long-Only-Indexfonds Auf Die Preisbildung Und Das Marktergebnis An Warenterminmärkten," 54th Annual Conference, Goettingen, Germany, September 17-19, 2014 187363, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    13. D'Ecclesia, Rita L. & Magrini, Emiliano & Montalbano, Pierluigi & Triulzi, Umberto, 2014. "Understanding recent oil price dynamics: A novel empirical approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(S1), pages 11-17.
    14. Tom Erik Sønsteng Henriksen & Alois Pichler & Sjur Westgaard & Stein Frydenberg, 2019. "Can commodities dominate stock and bond portfolios?," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 282(1), pages 155-177, November.
    15. repec:zbw:iamodp:161078 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Etienne, Xiaoli L. & Irwin, Scott H. & Garcia, Philip, 2014. "Bubbles in food commodity markets: Four decades of evidence," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 129-155.

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