The GSCI is the most widely used index of global commodities futures prices. All components of the index are physical commodities; no financial commodities are involved.
Some of the commodities included are:
- wheat
- corn
- soybeans
- coffee
- sugar
- cocoa
- hogs
- cotton
- cattle
- oil
- natural gas
- aluminum
- copper
- lead
- nickel
- zinc
- gold
- silver
Each is weighted based upon the global production.
Goldman Sachs began publishing the GSCI in 1991. Futures contracts on the GSCI and options on those futures contracts began trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in July 1992.
S&P acquired the GSCI from Goldman Sachs in February of 2007. It was renamed the S&P GSCI.
The returns are calculated on a fully collateralized basis with full reinvestment. The combination of these attributes provides investors with a representative and realistic picture of realizable returns attainable in the commodities markets.