Mass Commodity Liquidation

The past week’s action has seen a large decline in many of
the commodity markets. We’ve seen declines in oil, platinum, copper, corn,
wheat, sugar, OJ and others. Therefore, one has to ask, “What is the
justification for such a broad based selloff?” The answer, in short form, can
be found in the Commitment of Traders report. I track the commercials and large
and small speculators every week. However, Steve Briese, author of Commodity
Trading Bible, also tracks the Commodity Index Traders. This group makes up
the long only index funds that have been at the center of the Capitol Hill
rhetoric as it relates to high commodity prices. Over the last two months, we’ve
seen this group begin to liquidate their positions. Over the last two weeks,
they’ve begun to liquidate in earnest.

Certainly, some of the commodity markets have been trading
at prices far above any fundamental justification for quite some time. I’ve
written at length that there is little justification for crude above $100 per barrel.
Power outages in South Africa were a major contributor to the rise in platinum
and cocoa, as usual, is subject to the usual political and social turmoil. However,
the grain markets, have a substantial fundamental foundation to build from.
Just as there has been little justification for $140 oil, there is considerable
justification for “beans in the teens,” and corn at $6.50+ per bushel. In
general, this appears to be a case of, “throwing the baby out with the bath
water.”

Given the broad nature of the selloff and its corresponding
volatility, the most effective way to take advantage of a rebound in commodity
prices may be through the purchase of a commodity based currency like the
Australian Dollar futures. This currency is highly correlated to the commodity markets
and is also coming under technical pressure. The successive highs from June 6^th
and July 18^th were not confirmed by increasing open interest (black
vertical lines and lower magenta graph). Also, we have seen tightening
consolidation as the trend developed in ’08. Currently, we are sitting on the
weekly trend line at .9430. I would not be surprised to see the market violate
this trend. If the market trades down to its deeper support between .9221 -
.9321 and open interest does not increase on the violation of the weekly trend,
I think we have a golden opportunity purchase the Australian Dollar as a proxy
for a continued commodity based rally and further appreciation of the
Australian Dollar.