Commodities are so pervasive that, in my view, you cannot be a successful investor in stocks, bonds, or currencies without understanding them. You must understand commodities even if you only invest in stocks and bonds. Commodities belong in every truly diversified portfolio. Investing in commodities can be a hedge against a bear market in stocks, rampant inflation, even a major downturn in the economy.
Related trading instruments: United States Oil Fund LP ETF (USO), United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG), SPDR Gold Trust ETF (GLD), PowerShares DB Agriculture Fund (DBA)
