Commodities

What it measures

Commodities are raw materials and primary products: hard commodities such as oil and gold, and soft commodities such as wheat and corn. Prices are front-month futures.

Why it matters

• Understanding market fluctuations
• Commodity trading decisions
• Forecasting prices
• Managing risk

Reading the charts

• Use the performance chart to compare commodities with very different prices.
• Canada's terms of trade move with oil prices.