##  [# Commodities In Review: October 2019](/sections/etf-report-departments/commodities-review-october-2019) 

 

# Commodities In Review: October 2019

 

 

Precious metals had a great time during an otherwise bleak month for commodity ETFs.



 

 

 

 

 [![HeatherBell_green_bg](/sites/default/files/styles/author_image_icon/public/2023-03/heather2.png?itok=5J9vBlda)](/contributors/heather-bell) 

[By Heather Bell](/contributors/heather-bell)

 Oct 01, 2019

 Edited by: Heather Bell

 

 

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August was a month of extremes for commodity ETFs, with the top-performing fund, the [iPath Series B Bloomberg Nickel Subindex Total Return ETN (JJN)](/JJN), up a stunning 23.93%. Meanwhile, the [iShares Silver Trust (SLV)](/SLV) was up 11.55%, and the [Aberdeen Standard Physical Platinum Shares ETF (PPLT)](/PPLT) up 7.51%. There were a lot more funds with negative returns than positive if you look beyond the precious metals space. The worst performer was the [United States Gasoline Fund LP (UGA)](/UGA), down 10.49%; followed by the [iPath Series B Bloomberg Sugar Subindex Total Return ETN (SGG)](/SGG), down 8.65%; and the [iPath Bloomberg Cocoa Subindex Total Return ETN (NIB)](/NIB), down 7.99%. Inflows were impressive, mostly due to investors turning to gold, plowing $2.6 billion into the [SPDR Gold Trust (GLD)](/GLD), while SLV pulled in $539.5 million and the [United States Natural Gas Fund LP (UNG)](/UNG) pulled in just $37.7 million. Outflows were much more muted, with the [Invesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETF (PDBC)](/PDBC) losing the most, at $191.7 million; the [iPath Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return ETN (DJP)](/DJP) losing $68.1 million; and the [Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (DBC)](/DBC) losing $62.9 million.

![](/sites/default/files/images/Magazines/ETF%20Report/2019/10/CommoditiesOctoberFig1.jpg)

![](/sites/default/files/images/Magazines/ETF%20Report/2019/10/CommoditiesOctoberFig2.jpg)![](/sites/default/files/images/Magazines/ETF%20Report/2019/10/CommoditiesOctoberFig3.jpg)

*Sources: Bloomberg and FactSet. Data from 07/31/2019 to 08/31/2019. ETFs chosen to represent each sector based on the most liquid ETF in each segment of the ETF.com ETF Classification System.*





 

 

 [ Heather Bell ](/contributors/heather-bell) 

 

 

  Heather Bell is a former managing editor of etf.com. She has also held editorial positions at Dow Jones Indexes and Lehman Brothers. Bell is a…   [View Bio](/contributors/heather-bell)

 



 

 


 Related Topics  [Commodities](http://www.etf.com/topics/commodities) 

 [Precious Metals](http://www.etf.com/topics/precious-metals) 

 [Aberdeen Asset Management](http://www.etf.com/topics/aberdeen-asset-management) 

 [Active Management](http://www.etf.com/topics/active-management)