By Jodie Gunzberg, global head of commodities indices, S&P Dow Jones Indices.

All seven metals within the S&P GSCI All Metals Total Return Index experienced a positive return during August 2017.

In August, the Dow Jones Commodity Total Return Index gained 0.7%, reducing its year-to-date loss to -1.4%, and the S&P GSCI Total Return Index lost 0.8%, increasing its year-to-date loss to -6.9%.  Industrial metals and precious metals were the only positive sectors, up 8.6% and 4.0%, respectively, while agriculture was the worst performing sector, losing 7.4%, posting its worst month since July 2015.

Wheat was the worst performing commodity, losing 13.6% from record supplies, while Chinese demand and the falling US dollar helped nickel gain 15.4%, the most of any commodity in August for its best month since September 2012. In addition to nickel, 12 other commodities gained including all the metals and 5 of 6 energy commodities.

Brent crude’s excess return was positive in August for the first time since June 2014, showing the move from contango to backwardation as inventories draw down; WTI Crude’s roll was still negative but only by 0.3%, the least since December 2014. It is possible the refinery disruptions and trade issues from Hurricane Harvey contributed to the slower inventory draw of the domestic oil in August.

Source: S&P DJI.

August 2017 was the first August on record that all the metals gained together (since 1995 – the earliest year all seven metals were included in the index,) and it was the first month every metal gained together since September 2016. As a result, the S&P GSCI All Metals Total Return Index gained 7.3% in August, posting its best August ever since 1995. Now the all-metals index is up 19% year-to-date, and is on pace to have its best year since 2009, and its third best year on record.

Source: S&P DJI.

Many of the metals hit multi-year highs in August, and given the cyclical nature and economic sensitivity of industrial metals, they are interesting to examine further. Below is a table of recent high dates and when they are the highest since. Note the S&P GSCI Industrial Metals Spot Index is at its highest since September 2014. Zinc hit its highest since 2007, while aluminium and copper are also at notable highs since 2013 and 2014, respectively.

The S&P GSCI Industrial Metals is up 56.2% from its bottom on 12 January 2016.  All industrials are up significantly from their bottoms with zinc up almost 200% from its bottom in 2008, but is up 114.8% from a more recent (but higher) bottom on 12 January 2016.

Source: S&P DJI.

The main reason these metals are moving together and are hitting new highs are from the falling US dollar, Chinese demand growth and supply disruptions.

Since commodities are priced in US dollars and industrial metals is one of the most economically sensitive sectors, it moves oppositely from the falling dollar, rising on average 2.3% for every 1% the dollar drops. The dollar fell 9.3% year-to-date through August, so if the sector is moving as it has historically, its sensitivity to the falling dollar accounts for most of 2017’s gain. Lead and copper are most sensitive to the dollar’s drop, rising on average 6.2%, and 3.5%, respectively, for every 1% the dollar falls.

Source: S&P DJI.

Also, in the World Economic Outlook, the IMF now expects Chinese demand growth between 2017 and 2021 to average 6.4%, compared to 6.0% last year. This growth can drive industrial metals up significantly, 4.4% on average for every 1% rise in Chinese demand growth. On an individual basis, most of the metals gain even more. Nickel and lead benefit most historically, gaining 9.2% and 12.2% on average for every 1% Chinese demand growth increase.

Source: S&P DJI.

It will be interesting to watch the metals in September, but energy is at an interesting point from Hurricane Harvey and the upcoming OPEC meeting. It is possible the policy may be influenced by the hurricane disruption, and that while US inventories may remain high, the domestic transportation issues may help reduce the Brent crude inventories, enabling OPEC’s decisions to be temporarily more influential.

(The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of ETF Strategy.)