Hi Jim,
There are no right or wrong questions. There are only questions. So, taking yours in order …
<<1) What are the major economic trends that affect commodities?>>
Demographic trends
State of economy/politics
State of finance/money
State of global standards impacting the commodity in question
<<2) Are any new commodities being created by that?>>
Yes, data storage, DRAM chips, bandwidth and MBAs are relatively new commodities, but given their globally standard configurations, unitised sales/price, and applications, they are commodities, similar to coffee, wheat, porkbellies, metals, and monetary commodities such as gold, silver and the USDollar.
<<3) Are any moribund old-line commodities going to spring into life as a result?>>
Yes again. Auto catalyst, data storage and coming fuel cell applications are making platinum mining a more worthwhile effort. Diversification need for monetary commodities may bring new dynamism to gold mining. Genetic engineering may effect certain agriculture commodities in ways I am not able to foresee.
<<4) Which people operate the functional equivalent of a hedge-fund for commodities that aim to take particular
advantage of new developments?>>
All commodities are different, involving different sets of varied players, such as financiers, producers, explorers, large users, regulators. There are money management groups focusing on specific commodities, such as gold or oil, etc.
<<5) Are there any true innovators in the world of commodities? Doing what?>>
Gene modified food. Platinum application for fuel cell. Additives for gasoline. Higher capacity DRAMs. Cheaper telecom bandwidth. Gold carry trade. Just as the better known examples.
<<If anyone has any knowledge …>>
I know nothing about commodities, except that I must use many of them, repeatedly, at higher prices if necessary.
Chugs, Jay |
