Bloomberg
Iron Ore Turns ‘Very Hot’ as 10% Surge Adds to Commodities Boom
(Bloomberg) — Iron ore futures surged more than 10% and copper extended its record run amid increasing bets they’ll be among the biggest winners from a commodities boom that’s stoking concerns about inflation around the world.While analysts struggled to pinpoint a trigger for Monday’s gains in iron ore, they cited several trends including optimism that central banks will retain supportive policies even as the global economy recovers. Expectations China will tighten environmental rules have added to the bull case for copper — seen as vital to the green energy transition — and fueled speculation that steelmakers may front-load iron ore purchases before new curbs kick in.The gains add to a more than yearlong surge in raw-materials prices that’s shifted into overdrive in recent weeks, with the Bloomberg Commodity Spot Index rising for 14 of the past 15 days to the highest level in almost a decade. Metals including copper pared advances later in Monday’s session as dollar losses ebbed and U.S. Treasury yields advanced.A “Goldilocks scenario” may be forming as strengthening global growth combines with restrained wage pressures and a dovish Federal Reserve, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. commodities analysts said in a May 7 report, the same day weak U.S. jobs figures added to the case for more stimulus. The risk for bulls — and anyone betting on buoyant returns from stocks and bonds — is…
