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SPOT COM
GOLD -
Apart from its used for jewelry, gold has long been used as a hedge
against political and economic uncertainties, and many central banks
back their currency with gold reserves.
High: Jan, Low: Jul or Sep. Demand is usually weakest in Northern Hemisphere summer, especially August when European jewelry manufacturers are essentially shut down. Demand is greatest going into fourth quarter, during which consumption is highest as gift-giving peaks beginning with Indian harvest and wedding festivals in autumn and carrying through US religious holidays and Chinese new year.

COPPER -
High demand in building construction and used for electrical and electronic products, transportation and industrial machinery manufacturing. The price of copper therefore sensitive to statistics related to economic growth, particularly report such as housing starts.Therefore participants in financial markets often look to price action in copper markets as a gauge of general economic trend.
High: Mar-Apr, Low: Jun or Dec. Classic case of "demand precedes consumption." The latter is typically greatest during US construction season May-Sep whereas the former is greatest as inventories are built in anticipation. Rally from FND for July contract into early September reflects "last-gasp" demand ahead of final burst of construction/remodeling before bad weather begins.

SILVER -
High: May or Sep . Low: Jun or Dec. The effects of the normal contango price structure are especially pronounced. With each successive contract priced at a premium to reflect carrying charges, rollover produces a deceptive "rally."

CORN -
High: May-Jun. Low: Aug-Oct. After a post-harvest rally, market pressured by tax-related producer selling into "February Break." Spring rally begins wth March deliveries and focus on new-crop planting and weather. Seasonal peak often by June solstice. Market typically declines during July as crop is pollinated and matures. Seasonal low usually made going into October/November harvest.

WHEAT -
High: Dec-Jan. Low: Jun-Aug. Underlying cash market is soft red winter wheat, but all types and classes of wheat are deliverable at various premiums and discounts. Market tends to decline early in year under pressure from producer selling, spring wheat planting, and expectations for new-crop harvest May-July. Final or secondary low often comes in August, coinciding with harvest of spring wheat, before post-harvest rally into year end.
SOYA BEAN -
High: May-Jun. Low: Oct. After a post-harvest rally into the new year, soybeans are pressured by tax-related producer selling and the maturing Brazilian crop into the notorious "February Break." With market attention turning to the new US crop by March 1, spring rally often continues into May/June planting. By summer solstice, market begins decline -- sometimes broken by July weather scare -- into crop maturity and October harvest. Post-harvest rally begins by November's FND.

COFFEE -
High: May,Low: Jul or Sep-Oct. Weather in the Northern Hemisphere most affects consumption, with weather in the Southern most likely to affect production adversely. Demand strong through European and US cool weather (rally into Sep deliveries). Market prices risk-premium going into Southern Hemisphere freeze season before demand collapses (Jul deliveries) into Northern summer heat.

SUGAR -
High: Mar or Dec, Low: Sep. Except for Brazil and Australia , major producers are in the Northern Hemisphere. Sugar beets are planted in early spring (Mar-Apr) and harvested in fall. Sugarcane produces for several years, but is harvested mostly fall through spring. Thus, September low reflects anticipated production.
COCOA -
High: Aug-Sep, Low: Jun. Cocoa beans ripen from October through August, with two crops typically harvested. The primary producing crop runs from Oct-Mar, with a smaller crop May-Aug. The June low coincides with deliveries against the July contract, the Aug-Sep high with the end of the crop
year.
COTTON -
High: May-Jun, Low: Sep-Nov. Tax-related producer selling pressures market into FND for March contract. Increasing mill consumption and concern over planting, which begins in March, drive spring rally. With completion of planting in mid-June, market declines into harvest (September-December).
LIVE CATTLE -
High: Mar-Apr, Low: Jan or Jun. Breeding patterns tend to drive production pattern, with fewer animals available for slaughter during March-April while cold weather slows weight gain. Slaughter heaviest during May/June. January low often the result of price structure.
PORK BELLIES -
Like for Live Cattle, Pork Bellies are all traded domestically in US. Their prices are affected by consumer demand, competing protein sources, price of feed, and factors that influence the number of animals born and sent to market, such as disease and weather.
High: Mar-May or Oct , Low: Jul. During April, retailers build inventory of frozen bellies, whose end product is bacon, for heavy consumption during summer. However, seasonal low often occurs in July on heavy deliveries against futures and competition from fresh bellies. Prices high in October/November to encourage storage against first "new-crop" contract, February.

CRUDE OILS -
Crude Oil (NYM): (High: Oct//Low: Dec) Twin peaks in demand built on pillar of primary product demand. Weakness into Feb due to reduced demand for heating oil. Strength into Mar-May as inventories of gasoline built prior to US driving/vacation consumption. Lowest consumption of heating oil Jun-Aug, but demand for inventory grows prior to winter. Decline into Dec as refiners sharply curtail purchases to avoid year-end inventory tax.
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