The stock market is up about 65% since the 3/9/09 low, but oil has actually outperformed stocks over this time period with a gain of 72.64%. Below we highlight the performance of ten major commodities over the last year. As shown, copper is up the most with a gain of 108%, while orange juice ranks second with a gain of 101%. Of the three main precious metals, platinum is up the most at 50%, followed by silver at +33.73%, and then gold at +22.16%. Even natural gas is up since the March 9th, 2009 low with a gain of 16%. Wheat and corn are the only commodities shown that are down over the last year. Corn is down 11%, while wheat is down 18.27%.

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From “Oil futures turn upside down” (Gregory Meyer, Financial Times, March 8 2010):

Crude futures are doing a slow-motion backflip, stoking speculation about the next move for oil prices.

By Lara Crigger

Spring is in the air, and it's that time again: March Madness. No, not the basketball tourney—we mean the historical rise in crude oil and natural gas prices, which increase an average of 4 percent and 7 percent, respectively, according to recent research from natural resources and emerging markets mutual fund company U.S. Global Investors. And this March looks like it will continue the pattern, says Evan Smith, co-manager of the company's Global Resources Fund (PSPFX).