Commodities 50 Things You Need To Know

“Commodity speculators and armchair economists alike will love Peter Sainsbury’s hugely informative book, ‘Commodities’.”“Excellent, Well rounded Guide to Commodities.”“Good book, fun read.”Commodity markets can provide the basis for a Hollywood movie, be the spark that ignites revolutions, engender fear of shortages in business and within government, force us into making difficult choices about how we spend our money and inspire innovators to come up with better, cheaper ways of doing things.Whether you are involved in producing commodities, buy them for your business, want to trade or invest in them or simply – like the rest of us – consume them on a daily basis, this guide to commodities book should have something for you. Peter Sainsbury, economist and blogger at Materials Risk, introduces and explains the essential things you really need to know about commodities in a series of 50 accessible and engaging essays.Beginning with the basics, such as the price elasticity of supply and the role of expectations, and concluding with the latest thinking on speculation and commodity markets and how to trade or invest in commodities, he sheds light on all the essential topics needed to understand commodity super-cycles, resource scarcity and security, and the way the world of commodities affects us every day.Most books about commodities sell you the dream that you can give up your day job and make a killing by trading soybeans. Some suggest that you should invest your pension in gold and a basket of other commodities and look forward to a prosperous retirement. The others are full of complex statistics that are impenetrable to most people.This book is different. Packed with real-life examples and quotations from key thinkers and market players Commodities: 50 Things You Really Need To Know is a lively and relevant exploration of how commodities and commodity markets influences every aspect of our lives.After reading this book you will see the world anew. Instead of just eating your breakfast you will be wondering what impact the latest geopolitical crisis will have on the supply of wheat for your cereal, or what impact Chinese demand will have on the price of milk.Meanwhile, understanding how changes in the price of a commodity affect your investments may help you make better judgments about where to place your retirement capital and spark your inspiration for an innovation that can overcome the latest commodity bottleneck.