Metals

Gold, different from general merchandise, has possessed monetary, financial and commodity attributes from the outset of discovery by human, and runs through the entire history of human social development, but its financial and commodity attributes exhibit different role and influence in different historical stages.

Gold has been found and used by human since a very earlier time. As gold is rare, special and precious, it has been regarded as the first amongst the 5 important metal, and was titled as the "king of metal" since ancient time. The reputation of gold cannot be matched by other metal. As a consequence, gold once was a symbol of wealth and luxury and used for financial reserves, money, jewelry and so on. With the development of society, the economic status of gold and commodity applications have been constantly changing, its financial reserves, monetary functions are in the adjustment, and the commodity function is returning. With the rapid development of modern industry and technology, the use of gold in these areas has gradually expanded, while so far, gold is still the dominant metal that used in the international reserve currency, jewelry and other areas.

Silver was once playing a major role in reflecting the currency in the United States. The U.S. Congress currency circulation was silver-based and linked to fixed gold. Silver has been used in the coinage of the country until 1965. After centuries of evolution, silver was given more important economic functions, it is an important industrial raw material used in photography, jewelry and electronics industries.

Today, silver is becoming a precious industrial commodity and an attractive investment product. As a precious metal, silver is also an investment product preferred by general investors. 

Copper is an important industrial raw materials with high market maturity, it has both financial attributes and commodity attributes, closely related to macroeconomic indicators. Copper is one of the popular trading commodities preferred by investors.

High grade copper is such a widely used good in industries that it is an excellent gauge of global economic activity, especially in production. Therefore, supply and demand of copper are a critical factor reflecting the market sentiment. High grade copper is traded all over the world nowadays.

The largest producer of high grade copper is Chile, followed by China, Peru and the United States. The United States is the primary user of copper.