Commodities

These are raw materials such as oil, food, steel etc.
The prices of these products are unpredictable but are often affected by the seasons.

Commodities are usually traded by people who have no need for the actual raw material but are speculating on the future price.
Most trading is done on the futures market making deals to buy and sell a commodity at some time in the future.
Most deals are closed out before the commodity is due to be delivered.

Cash and carry arbitrage is much less common in the commodities market than the financial futures market
The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) is the oldest and largest commodity exchange in the world.

Commodities are the raw or partly refined materials which are traded for processing into final products.
Most commodities traded on exchanges are for future delivery.

Types of Commodities

The range of comodities is vast so its best to think of them as falling into four main categories:
Energy - Brent Crude Oil, Natural gas, electricity, Coal
Agriculture - Grains & Oilseeds, Livestock/Meat and Softs
Metals - Base Metals and Precious Metals
Emissions

How are they traded

Commodity Futures and Options
There are 2 methods
Actual/Exchange - normal exchange of goods for cash
Derivative Contracts - traded in pits or electronically (CBOT has a trading pit)

Market Participants

Unlike other Financial-Markets there are quite a few middle men
Producers - supply and refine the raw materials
Consumers - convert the raw/refined commodities into finished products
Traders - hedging, speculators and arbitrage
Dealers - provide risk management/derivatives or financing services
Investors -

Convenience Yield

This is the benefit from holding a physical commodity instead of its corresponding derivative contract.
It describes the adjustment to the forward price of some commodities, such that the forward price tends to be lower than than the spot price.
The convenience yield arises from the fear or:
1) a temporary shortage
2) interruption to the production or refining process

If we assume there is no convenience yield then the forward price should rise at the same rate as the risk free money rate.
EQ

Therefore any difference between the spot and forward price can be attributed to convenience yield.
When there is convenience yield, the forward price must rise at a lower rate than the risk free money market rate.

Commodity Markets
London's main commodity market is divided into 2 parts

2) Soft (london commodity exchange)
Cocoa, Coffee, Sugar, Potatoes, Wheat, Barley

The official price on the day in the price at the end of the session
There are 4 sessions a day and each one lasts for 5 minutes

The International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) which is a separate organisation but located in the same building, offers futres and options on futures in various petroleum products of which the main ones are Brent crude and gas oil.

NYME PLAT

WTI crude Oil (Nymex)
Brent Crude (ICE)
RBOB Gasoline (Nymex) - refined
Natural Gas (Nymex)
Heating Oil (Nymex) - refined
Gasoil (Nymex) - refined
Crude Oil (Tokyo)