Although they've given back a bit of ground lately, commodity prices have performed well during the past year. Since last February, the benchmark Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index has gained 21.8%, aided in particular by strength in agricultural, energy and precious metals-related products.
One group of commodities, base (or industrial) metals -- which includes aluminum, zinc and copper -- has not kept pace with the others, however. Over the past twelve months, the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index-Optimum Yield Industrial Metals Excess Return Index -- which has an exchange-traded fund, the PowerShares DB Base Metals Fund ETF (AMEX: DBB) -- has only risen 2.1%.
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