Guide To Investing in Commodities Without doubt, commodities are attracting a great deal of attention at the moment. As the prices of gold, silver, copper, oil and numerous foodstuffs like wheat, sugar and corn continue to perform well in the post-financial crisis environment, this guide aims to provide you with valuable insight into the drivers of commodity prices and the pitfalls awaiting the unprepared investor. In August 2011, gold prices hit a record-breaking $1,920 per ounce, while the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil is seemingly permanently stationed above $100. So, is it too late to buy into the commodities success story? Global Strategic Management believes that there is a strong case for the continuation of the secular bull market in commodities. Nevertheless, it is important that investors pay close attention to the methods they use to enter the markets. The first thing to remember is that the market for commodities, like any other, is subject to the vagaries of supply and demand. A fall in supply usually translates to an increase in price and vice versa. When one considers that commodities are essentially physical assets, it is easy to understand why they are often called safe havens since they preserve wealth in physical manner. The basics Recently, the price performance of precious metals has revitalized investors’ perceptions of their usefulness in terms of diversification and their inflation-fighting credentials. Looking more closely at gold which has traditionally been viewed as a safe haven asset going back some thousands of years, there are a number of ways in which the investor can gain exposure. How to invest There are three basic methods by which the ordinary investor can invest in commodities. One can choose the physical route which involves actually buying and taking delivery of the commodity; one can purchase equities in commodity companies who operate within the market or one can invest in directly from the fund or investment trust. Obviously, depending on the nature of the commodity, taking delivery has practical drawbacks. For instance, taking delivery of a quantity of,
say, corn would be highly inadvisable since it is a perishable foodstuff. Buying and taking delivery of gold, however, poses a very different problem in terms of security but it will not perish. Buying stocks in companies exposed to the commodities market can be highly lucrative since their share price has a direct correlation to the rising prices of the underlying commodity. This can be a double-edged sword, however, because, as companies, they are subject to the same issues that can affect other businesses including cash flow, debt and management. Buying a share or an interest in an investment fund like an ETF is often called investing in paper commodities. The fund will sell shares in itself that are backed by holdings of the underlying commodity. This form of investing in commodities is particularly convenient as it does away with the requirement for physical storage of the commodity in question. Global Strategic Management can provide in-depth counseling and advice on all the various methods of investing in commodities.
Introductory Guide To Investing Global Strategic Management has prepared five key points that every investor should consider before deciding to enter the potentially highlylucrative investment marketplace. By investing, you expose your money to far higher potential for growth than what it might attract being left in a savings or deposit account with a bank or other financial institution. Today’s low interest rate environment means that you could be losing out by keeping your money in a deposit or savings account because inflation is higher than the interest (return) currently being paid by the best of these accounts. While it is true that investing can help you match or even beat inflation, it is very important to understand that by doing so, you are introducing an element of risk to your money. With this in mind, it is important that you understand that there is an increased potential for loss and it is important that you secure the best possible advice before making a foray into the investment marketplace.
It is a good idea to ensure that you have considered the following five points before acting on a decision to begin investing. 1) Do you know your financial goals? You should have a clear vision of what it is you want to achieve by becoming an investor. Are you simply looking to build upon the money you already have? Do you need to provide an income? Do you have a target by which you want your money to grow or is there a minimum amount of income that you need to achieve each month from your investments? Having a clear idea of these will undoubtedly help you when it comes to deciding how much risk you are comfortable with exposing your money to. 2) How long do you want to invest for? Once you’ve worked out what your financial goals are, you need to ascertain how long you’re going to allow yourself to achieve them. This, in turn, will give you a clear idea of the rate of return you need in order to achieve those goals. It will also give you an idea of whether or not your goals are truly realistic. When gauging the duration of your investments, issues like your age and your health should be taken into consideration. With a short-term goal of, say, less than five years – it would be advisable to stick to cash savings. A medium-term goal of, say, 5 to 10 years is far more appropriate for investment but, the older you get, the less viable some investments become since you will have less time for your money to recover in the event that your capital is diminished by investment market conditions. Be aware that if you’re close to retirement, your potential for earning is somewhat diminished. 3) Work out your tolerance for investment risk It is of paramount importance that you gain a full understanding of the risks your money may be exposed to by investing. You need to be aware of the fact that the risk you are willing to take will have an impact on the length of time you wish to invest for, not to mention your financial goals themselves. For example, if you’re looking to secure large returns over a relatively short period, you will more than likely have to invest in assets which are exposed to a greater degree of risk. If, however, that degree of risk is more than you are willing to bear, you may need to evaluate your goals.
4) How much money do you have to invest? Realism in terms of the amount of money you have to invest is as important as deciding how much risk you are willing to expose that money to. You need to assess all of your liabilities; things like debt, insurance, pension contributions, “rainy day” provisions and day-to-day living costs. Be mindful of the fact that investment is usually a long-term consideration and that, if you should need access to the money that you have invested, you will almost certainly curtail overall investment performance. 5) Seek financial advice When all is said and done, only those who have in-depth knowledge of the financial markets should be managing their own investments. This knowledge takes time and perseverance to acquire; this is why some people like Global Strategic Management make careers out of providing investment and financial advice. By availing yourself of financial advice, you’ll be able to discuss all the aforementioned points and make sure that your investments fit in seamlessly with your own personal requirements.
Sharing the wealth The urge to “get a piece of the stock market” can be very compelling for the novice investor. This is not surprising when anecdotal evidence of other people’s gains make one question the wisdom of leaving one’s money in a safe but somewhat pedestrian bank savings or deposit account. The truth is, however, that most novices would be horrified if, having invested a sizeable sum in shares, they lost 10, 20 or even 30% of their initial capital. For most people, the stock market is not a short-term consideration. Despite some claims to the contrary, it is time rather than timing that is the investor’s best friend. A minimum of 3 to 5 years is usually adequate to see meaningful returns on investments in equities. What to buy? For many investors, spreading risk across a number of different stocks can be difficult especially if one has limited funds available. It is just as easy to buy an investment fund comprised of the shares of, say, 100 companies as it is to buy many shares in a single company. Global Strategic Management believes that it is unwise to put all your eggs in one basket. It is far better to diversify and spread risk by buying shares
in several different companies in various business sectors. Some stocks of so-called “blue chip� companies pay dividends. Dividends are periodical payments that companies will make to shareholders for continuing to hold their stocks. If you have a sizeable amount of money invested in the stocks of a blue-chip company, the income from the dividends alone can add up to a pretty penny. The value of shares rises and falls for any number of different reasons including overall market sentiment, industry sector sentiment and individual company performance. Many investors are frightened into selling their shares when their value falls in line with the overall market. This type of panic selling actually provides opportunities for canny investors to acquire stocks at depressed valuations in preparation for the inevitable bounce in the broader market. Of course, there are times when stocks need to be sold but it is always advisable to sell when you want to rather than as a result of a wider panic. This is why it is best to be invested in stocks for the medium to long term. If you are at the early stages of making your own decisions with regard to stock market investment, there is a great deal of information on the internet that provides information on how stocks or investment funds have performed over the short, medium and long-term. For most people, however, the best way to remove a significant proportion of risk from investment decisions is to consult those who are knowledgeable and have considerable experience of stock market investment like Global Strategic Management. Our professionals have significant experience in helping guide novices when it comes to deciding which business sectors and which companies to buy shares in.
This report was prepared by: Global Strategic Management www.globalstrategicmanagement.com