Commodities — reference

What the major commodities are, how they're quoted, and why their prices ripple through markets. Educational reference — no live quotes, no advice.

info

Market data is provided for educational and informational purposes only. ChartsQuest does not provide financial advice, investment recommendations, trading signals, legal advice, or predictions. Data may be delayed, incomplete, or inaccurate. Always verify information independently before making any decision.

menu_bookEducational reference — no live quotes

SymbolAssetUnit
XAUGoldper troy ounce
XAGSilverper troy ounce
WTICrude Oil (WTI)per barrel
NGNatural Gasper MMBtu
HGCopperper pound
ZWWheatper bushel

Commodities are raw physical goods — metals like gold and copper, energy like crude oil and natural gas, and agriculture like wheat and corn. They are usually quoted in a specific unit (gold per troy ounce, oil per barrel, copper per pound), and most trade through futures contracts, which is why a 'price' is really the price of a specific contract month.

Commodity prices matter far beyond commodity traders. Oil feeds into transport and manufacturing costs; copper is so tied to construction and industry that it's nicknamed 'Dr. Copper'; gold is widely watched as a barometer of fear and a hedge against currency weakness. Reading these relationships is part of the macro 'playbook' inside the ChartsQuest app.

We present commodities here as an educational reference rather than a live feed. The goal is to make you fluent in what each one is and why it moves — not to quote you a number to trade on.

Frequently asked questions

Why is gold quoted per ounce but oil per barrel?add

Each commodity has its own conventional contract unit set by the exchanges that trade it — troy ounces for precious metals, barrels for crude oil, bushels for grains, and so on.

Why do commodity prices affect other markets?add

They are inputs to the real economy. Energy and metals prices feed into company costs and inflation, so they ripple into stocks, bonds and currencies.

Can I trade commodities here?add

No. ChartsQuest is educational only — no trading, no live data, no recommendations.