Investing Assets & Markets Commodities The Risks of Commodities By Chuck Kowalski Updated on November 12, 2021 Reviewed by Chip Stapleton Fact checked by David Rubin Photo: Mario Tama / Getty Images A risk is often synonymous with commodities. Most people who are not involved in the commodity business believe that the prices of commodities are wild bucking broncos, and they are often correct. Only a small portion of the population understands commodities and is willing to participate in the speculative arena. However, volatility and risk create opportunities for profits. The masses often misunderstand the risks inherent in the commodities markets. Key Takeaways Commodity futures are leveraged instruments; it takes a small amount of margin to control a large amount of a commodity.This type of investing is especially risky for small traders, but market professionals may be able to demonstrate consistent returns.Commodities are the most volatile asset class; stocks, bonds, and currencies tend to have lower variance and more liquidity than commodities.It is not unusual for the price of a raw material to halve, double, triple, or more over a very short period of time. A Risky Proposition The main reason why commodities are a risky proposition is that they trade on futures markets that offer a high degree of leverage. A commodity trader normally only has to post 5% to 15% of the contract value in futures margin value to control investment in the total contract value. For example, if the price of crude oil is trading at $82 a barrel, and the crude oil futures contract is for 1,000 barrels, the total value of the futures contract is $82,000. A trader might only have to post about $5,100 to control $82,000 worth of crude oil. For every $1 that crude oil moves, that trader could potentially earn or lose $1,000 per contract held. Crude oil can move more than $2 during a trading day. Two dollars higher or lower equates to a 40% move when compared to the margin necessary to trade the crude oil futures contract. Therefore, the risk of commodity futures is what attracts some and keeps others far away. Leverage can be dangerous in the hands of an undisciplined trader. Leverage is the main reason so many new commodity traders lose money. Small traders who are new to the market tend to lose money quickly. The professional, seasoned commodity veterans in the business have mastered these volatile and leveraged markets. Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs) tend to achieve positive returns because of their experience in the managed futures arena. Began in 1980, the Barclay CTA Index, which measures the composite performance of a hypothetical portfolio of established trading programs, returned an average of 4.77% for 2021 and holds 416 programs. The CTA statistics illustrate that while commodities are risk-laden for the small trader, market professionals have demonstrated consistent returns with large pools of money, and they can control the risk through diversification and time-tested trading strategies. In the end, commodities can be treacherous, or just another investment that often offers above-average returns. Risks, Rewards, and Volatility A reward is a direct function of risk. In the world of commodities, greater rewards come with a higher degree of risk. Commodity futures are leveraged instruments; it takes a small amount of margin to control a large amount of a commodity. Therefore, a trader or investor can make a lot of money, but they can also lose a lot. Commodities are the most volatile asset class. It is not unusual for the price of a raw material to halve, double, triple, or more over a very short time. Stocks, bonds, and currencies tend to have lower variance and more liquidity than commodities. For example, the daily volatility of a currency like a dollar tends to be lower than 1%, while the same metric for a commodity such as natural gas is not uncommonly above 30%. Commodities are risky assets. Therefore, good judgment, caution, and knowledge about the instruments that you are trading or investing in are particularly important in the commodities futures arena. In any market, the biggest risk is not having a complete understanding of the business. Each business has risks. Credit risk, margin risk, market risk, and volatility risk are just a few of the many risks people face every day in commerce. In the world of commodity futures markets, the leverage afforded by margin makes price risk the danger on which most people focus. The Balance does not provide tax, investment, or financial services or advice. The information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. CME Group. “Self-Study Guide to Hedging With Livestock Futures and Options.” Page 12. BACKSTOP BarclayHedge. “Barclay CTA Index.” Accessed Dec. 31, 2021. MarketWatch. “U.S. Dollar Index (DXY).” U.S. Energy Information Administration. “Henry Hub Natural Gas Spot Price.”