This report has been deactivated

13

0
How To Profit From Soaring Food Prices With ETFs
Thu, Jun 4 2009, 14:45 GMT
by Ron Rowland
Money and Markets
Global food prices are climbing higher along with energy and precious metals. In May, the Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index, which tracks 19 raw materials including corn, crude oil, and gold, surged by 14 percent — its biggest monthly gain since 1974!
What's behind this move? Simple: The U.S. government's massive spending is killing the dollar and setting off inflation. At the same time, China's massive economy is still growing like crazy. And the insatiable Chinese demand for all kinds of resources looks set to continue despite the global recession.
In last week's Money and Markets column, I explained how you can trade gold with ETFs. Today we're going to look at the ways you can play the uptrend in agricultural products — without using futures or options.
Method #1: Buy Individual Agricultural Companies
One way to invest in rising food prices is to buy the stocks of companies in the "agribusiness" sector.
You've probably heard of companies like Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), John Deere (DE), Monsanto (MON), and Tyson Foods (TSN).
Of course, individual stock picking takes a lot of time and research. What if you just want to get broad exposure to the whole group?
Then you can use ...
Method #2: Buy Agribusiness Stock-Based ETFs!
For instance, take a look at Market Vectors Agribusiness ETF. The ticker symbol is MOO, and it has all the companies listed above plus a few dozen more — including many non-U.S. stocks that are hard to access otherwise.
PowerShares Global Agriculture (PAGG) is another ETF covering this space. Either MOO or PAGG will give you a good cross-section of agriculture-oriented stocks from around the world.
Of course, stock based ETFs — while great — only provide "indirect" exposure to the underlying grains and agricultural products. What if you want direct access to the commodities themselves?
Method #3: Use Commodity-Focused ETFs and ETNs
You can now buy your way into the grain markets just as easily as you buy a stock — without the stress of leveraged futures and options.
For instance, PowerShares DB Agriculture Fund (DBA) tracks an index of four key markets: Corn, wheat, soybeans and sugar. With these in your pocket, you'll be ready to profit as inflation sends worldwide food prices through the roof.
The iPath Dow Jones-AIG Agriculture Total Return Sub-Index ETN (JJA) is similar to DBA but is a little more diversified, adding coffee, cotton and soybean oil to the mix.
The last broad-based, commodities ETF I want to discuss today is Elements Linked To Rogers International Commodity Index — Agriculture Total Return (RJA).
RJA follows an index of 20 agricultural commodities developed by legendary investor Jim Rogers. It includes all the major markets plus several smaller ones: Canola, orange juice, oats, rubber, live cattle, lumber, cocoa, and more.
What about Single-Market Agriculture Funds?
If you want to zero in on one or more individual commodity markets, such as coffee or sugar, there are now easy ways to do that, too.
Several firms offer ETF-like products that do this for you. If it's coffee you want, iPath has an ETN that tracks java prices. The ticker is JO. There are others for livestock, cocoa, and sugar.
However, I suggest that most people stay away from individual commodities, for two reasons:
First, the risk is very high. Unless you're very confident in what you're doing, or you're getting the guidance of a bona fide commodities expert, you're probably better off leaving these laser-focused investments out of your portfolio.
Second, these funds are fairly new and tend to have low trading volumes, which implies they are not very liquid. That means you may get hurt by higher transaction costs.
In other words, it's far better to follow the major trends with one of the more diversified, agriculture securities I've mentioned earlier.
Another thing to keep in mind is that many of the commodity-tracking vehicles are ETNs, not ETFs. That means you are exposed to the issuer's credit default risk. (See my February 6, 2009, Money and Markets column to learn why ETNs may be riskier than they look.)
I'm not trying to scare you away from ETNs, of course. Far from it — I use them myself. I just want you to be aware of what you're getting into.
Bottom line: If we're entering a major inflationary trend, food prices could go much, much higher. And the exchange-traded products that hold commodities and/or agricultural companies could shoot up as well.
Published on
Thu, Jun 4 2009, 14:45 GMT
Weiss Research, Inc
| 15430 Endeavour Drive. Jupiter, FL 33478-6400 - USA
http://www.moneyandmarkets.com | eletter@moneyandmarkets.com
Legal disclaimer and risk disclosure
Money and Markets e-newsletter is published by Weiss Research, Inc. Weiss Research, Inc. is strictly a research publishing firm and does not provide individual investment advice to its subscribers. The information we publish is based on our opinions plus our statistical and financial data and independent research. Although we make every effort to provide the most accurate and updated information possible, our information cannot take into consideration your personal finances and goals, and therefore is not intended to be used as customized recommendation to buy, hold, or sell securities, or engage in any trading strategy. Such recommendations may only be made by a personal advisor or the broker you select.
Most investments involve risk of loss. Although this service makes every effort to protect your principal, you can lose money. Therefore, it is not for all of your funds. If your goal for a certain portion of your funds is strictly capital preservation, we believe you should invest those funds in conservative investments such as short-term U.S. Treasury securities or equivalent. For more information on prudent investing, see also the information available at the websites of the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority at www.finra.org.
Most of the information we publish is derived from primary sources, including the U.S. government agencies as well as the financial institutions or publicly traded companies we cover. We believe our data sources are accurate, but we do not verify their accuracy independently. Therefore, we cannot assure you that the information is accurate or complete. Nor do we guarantee the success of any investment decision you may make using our data, information, or recommendations.
To help us track the performance of this service, subscribers are asked to give their brokers’ permission to share statements with us strictly for the purpose of substantiating the results of the trading. If broker documents are available on a particular trade, we use them to calculate the net, after-commission profits on the trade. Naturally, the results of each subscriber may differ depending on the actual prices achieved and the commissions paid. If broker documents are not available on a trade, we estimate the pre-commission gains based on the market prices following the publication of each recommendation. In addition, examples of potential performance returns may sometimes be based on simulated — not actual — trades, assuming entry and exit prices that could have been obtained during regular market conditions. These entry and exit prices calculated do not reflect or include costs of spreads, market delays, or fees and commissions. Similar returns may or may not be actually achieved by subscribers.
While every effort is made to evaluate the actual experience of subscribers, most performance figures must be considered hypothetical, and past results are no guarantee of future performance. Hypothetical or simulated performance results have certain inherent limitations. Unlike an actual performance record, simulated results do not represent actual trading. Also, since the trades have not actually been executed, the results may have under- or over-compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, such as lack of liquidity. Simulated trading programs in general are also subject to the fact that they are designed with the benefit of hindsight. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown.
References to examples of past performance are not intended to provide a total picture of portfolio results. Your results may vary considerably depending on a series of factors, including: (a) when you begin or cease investing, (b) which recommendations you choose to act on, (c) how much money you choose to invest in each recommendation, (d) the specific prices you get, (e) the broker commissions you pay, (f) the interest income you earn on uninvested funds, and (g) the number and magnitude of losing or winning trades you experience.
With the exception of exempt securities such as government securities and mutual funds, all Weiss Group, Inc. and Weiss Research, Inc. personnel are prohibited from purchasing any security or investment that is recommended in its publications, per the company’s Personal Securities Transaction (PST) policy.
LIMITATION ON WEISS RESEARCH’S LIABILITY
Weiss Research’s liability, whether in contract, tort, negligence, or otherwise, shall be limited in the aggregate to direct and actual damages not to exceed the fees received by Weiss from Subscriber. Weiss will not be liable for consequential, incidental, punitive, special, exemplary, or indirect damages resulting directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance upon any material provided by Weiss. Without limitation, Weiss shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damages related to, either directly or indirectly, (1) any decline in market value or loss of any investment; (2) a subscriber’s inability to use or any delay in accessing the Weiss website or any other source of material provided by Weiss; (3) any absence of material on the Weiss website; (4) Weiss’ failure to deliver or delay in delivering any material or (5) any kind of error in transmission of material; or (6) the use by a subscriber of any research to invest in any way which may be deemed unsuitable in accordance with certain industry standards. Weiss and Subscriber acknowledge that, without limitation, the above-enumerated conditions cannot be the probable cause of any breach of any agreement between Weiss and Subscriber. "No-risk" and "risk-free" refer solely to the subscription price refund policy.
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
ANY AND ALL MATERIAL PROVIDED BY WEISS IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WEISS MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Related reports
Being Honest With Yourself by The Trader's Journal
Mon, Nov 23 2009, 15:43 GMT
Trading Broadening Top/Bottom Patterns by The Trader's Journal
Mon, Nov 23 2009, 15:28 GMT
Forex Technical Report - Gold Surges as Dollar is Unable to Follow-Through to Upside by ForexHound.com
Mon, Nov 23 2009, 14:45 GMT
European Market Update - Stocks aided by rising risk appetite by TradeTheNews.com
Mon, Nov 23 2009, 11:03 GMT
Market Session Snap-Shot by ACM - Advanced Currency Markets
Mon, Nov 23 2009, 10:54 GMT
education, stocks
View All
Related content
U.S. markets advance after buoyant housing data; Dollar, at lower levels
FXstreet.com | Mon, Nov 23 2009, 15:30 GMT
UPDATE: Asian Shrs End Mostly Up; Metal Stocks Ride Gold Rally
Dow Jones | Mon, Nov 23 2009, 11:19 GMT
Weaker Dollar Lifts Gold, Copper And Resource Stocks
Dow Jones | Mon, Nov 23 2009, 10:46 GMT
European markets advance, supported by commodities; Euro and Pound appreciate
FXstreet.com | Mon, Nov 23 2009, 10:38 GMT
Asian Shares End Mostly Up; Metal Stocks Ride Gold Rally
Dow Jones | Mon, Nov 23 2009, 09:41 GMT
education, stocks
View All
Trading for a living » Nice run at the Frankfurt opening
Mon, Nov 23 2009, 12:03 GMT
The Advisor Weblog » U.S. Stocks strongly down
Thu, Nov 19 2009, 16:03 GMT
Trade Setups » Clean Chart/Messy Chart
Fri, Nov 13 2009, 11:46 GMT
The Advisor Weblog » Starting the day
Mon, Nov 2 2009, 11:24 GMT
The Advisor Weblog » Are you watching?
Fri, Oct 2 2009, 13:37 GMT
education, stocks
View All
How to Get Started Trading Forex
Mark Whistler | Tue, Sep 30 2008, 12:30 GMT
Trading and Identifying Volatility in the Forex
John Jagerson | Thu, Oct 9 2008, 12:30 GMT
How to Get Started Trading Forex - Free Access Day
Mark Whistler | Thu, Oct 16 2008, 15:00 GMT
Facts, Fiction and Truth About Day Trading
Markus Heitkoetter | Tue, Oct 21 2008, 16:00 GMT
Institutional Trading Strategies
Andrei Pehar | Wed, Oct 22 2008, 15:00 GMT 
education, stocks
View All