Difference between Commodity Markets and Stock Markets

Commodity Market

The term commodity refers to a type of resource or goods that are essential to our everyday life, and can be traded with other goods of the same type. They can be of two types: hard commodities such as gold or oil, and soft commodities such as agricultural products and livestock.

A commodity market can be a type of physical or virtual market where such commodities can be bought and sold from one trader to another. There are various ways to invest and trade in commodities. These include direct commodity investment as well as purchasing commodity future contracts as an investment.

Stock Market

The type of security that is an indication that an individual has an ownership stake in a publicly-held company, is known as a stock. A person’s stock in a company is represented by the number of shares he has of the company, which he can then sell or buy from other stock owners. The collection of markets where this sale and purchase of stocks takes place is known as the stock market.

A person can invest in the stock market by opening a trading and demat account with a brokerage firm. The brokerage firm can then get you connected with the relevant stock exchanges and carry out the trades on your behalf.

Now that we have understood the distinction between commodities vs stocks, let us take a closer look at the differences between their respective markets.

Here are the prime factors that distinguish stock market vs commodity market:

Ownership: After buying stocks in the stock market, an investor gains a fraction of ownership of a company. The most popular strategy of trading in a stock market is to hold a stock that you own and wait for a favourable turn of the market. In the case of commodity markets, however, the most common type of trading is done via the means of futures contracts. With futures contracts, there is no ownership exchanging hands between people. Instead, these contracts deal with future deliveries of commodities that are traded but rarely ever owned.

Volatility: Out of all asset classes and financial markets, commodities and commodity markets tend to be the most volatile. When comparing the stock market with the commodity market, the latter is certain to have far more volatile trends. This is because the commodity market is known for having lower liquidity and is affected by ever-changing external factors such as supply-demand and geopolitics.

Time Horizon: Investors in the stock market can hold their stocks for a short period of time, going as short as a trading day. However, stocks can also be held over years and decades, making them an ideal long-term investment. However, the time horizon on commodity trading is very different. The commodity market typically trades in contracts which are typically short-term. Also, unlike stocks, they come with a time limit or expiry, meaning they must be traded within the given time frame. Therefore, the commodity market is ideal for short-term investment.

All in all, the debate between investing in commodities vs stocks can be settled by figuring out one’s investment priorities. If you are looking for a short-term, non-ownership investment, and making the most of a volatile market, investing in the commodity market is the way to go. On the other hand, for long-term, ownership-based investments that require time and patience, the stock market might be the ideal choice for you.