London, 3 August 2011

Every major S&P GSCI commodity sector increased in July, yielding a 2.43% monthly gain for the index. Precious metals, as measured by the S&P GSCI Precious Metals Index, surpassed the other sectors, increasing 9.49% as the U.S. dollar weakened and equities declined amid escalating global sovereign debt issues and weaker than expected economic data.

Commodities generally benefitted in July as investors sought solid assets in the face of increasing financial asset uncertainly. Gold ended the month at a new historic high closing price of US$1,629/oz, but silver was the best performing S&P GSCI commodity in July.

Supply issues helped to support copper and the industrial metals, as measured by the July gain of 3.71% in the S&P GSCI Industrial Metals Index. Gains in wheat and sugar bolstered agriculture, as reflected by the 3.32% increase in the S&P GSCI Agriculture Index.

The S&P GSCI Energy Index took a back seat to most other commodities in the new quarter with a monthly gain of 1.74% in July and a YTD increase of 8.15%.

Ends --

Download the Market Attributes below:

Attachments:

MarketAttributes_Commodities_July2011.pdf

132 Kb