Jenny Cosgrave talks to a trio of wealth managers about their outlook for the commodities sector and finds out which strategies stand out from the crowd.
Crude oil surged to record levels in euro and sterling terms yesterday, adding to fears European economies could slump back into recession.
Increasing tensions between the West and Iran have helped push Brent crude to an eight-month high of $121 a barrel, leaving many concerned over the longer-term impact.
Demand for gold ETFs fell to a seven-year low in 2011 even as overall investment demand for gold hit a 14-year high, according to the World Gold Council.
BHP Billiton, the world's largest miner, said a deterioration in demand for commodities contributed to a 5.5% slide in half-year profits to $9.94bn (£6.25bn).
Glencore and Xstrata are in advanced talks about a $80bn merger that could reshape the mining industry.