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The S&P GSCI, the most closely followed benchmark for investment performance in the commodity markets, registered its biggest one-month gain in May since Iraq invaded Kuwait in September of 1990. According to Standard & Poor's Index Services, the S&P GSCI increased 19.67% in May compared to a gain of 22.94% in September of 1990.

CME Group, the world's largest and most diverse derivatives exchange, announced that May volume averaged 10.7 million contracts per day, down 15 percent from May 2008, but up 17 percent from April 2009. Total volume was 214 million contracts for May, of which 79 percent was traded electronically. Electronic volume averaged 8.4 million contracts per day, down 14 percent from the prior May and up 15 percent sequentially.

London Stock Exchange Group plc reports results for the financial year ended 31 March 2009. In summary, the Group has delivered a good underlying performance against the backdrop of difficult markets, reflecting the overall resilience and diversification of the business.

Fitch Ratings has commented that despite an expected decline in 2009 iron and steel selling prices, as well as declining worldwide steel production, credit ratings and Outlooks of iron and steel producers in Brazil, China, and the CIS remain relatively stable, particularly in relation to their peers in developed markets. In its special report titled, "Emerging Market Iron & Steel: Surviving the Downturn", the agency compares how declining iron ore prices in this downturn will likely impact miners and steel producers, considering their different business profiles, and examines the impact on their credit profiles and ratings.

China dominates the global aluminium industry accounting for one third of both world production and world consumption of primary aluminium. While China is self sufficient in aluminium metal and approaching self sufficiency in alumina, dependence on imported bauxite remains high despite rising output. However, power supply issues and high costs of production could result in declining production in the longer term and the possibility that China will become a net importer of primary aluminium.

China consumed 31.47 million metric tons of oil in April, up a strong 4% from the corresponding month of 2008, a Platts analysis of official data showed May 21.

The Abraham Energy Report issued its summer outlook for gasoline supplies and prices, forecasting the national price of all grades of gasoline in the U.S. could average $2.30 per gallon for the summer driving season as a whole and hit $2.40 per gallon during peak-demand periods.

NYSE Euronext announced trading volumes for its global cash equities and derivatives exchanges for April 2009. For the month of April 2009, NYSE Euronext’s handled U.S. and matched European cash trading volumes increased 38.3% and 15.5%, respectively, and U.S. options volume increased 73.6%. European derivatives volumes increased to their highest levels since September 2008, driven in part by record Bclear OTC equity products trading activity.

The average daily value traded on the equity order books of London Stock Exchange Group during April increased 16 per cent on the average for the first quarter of 2009 to £7.5 billion (€8.4 billion), though this was down by 34 per cent on April last year. Driven in particular by increased trading activity in the Italian market, the average daily number of trades across the Group was 1,053 494, up by 14 per cent on April 2008, and up 12 per cent compared with the average for the previous three months. The total value traded during the month was £150.2 billion (€168.2 billion), and the total number of trades was 21.1 million.

Himfr.com discusses the iron ore market. This year the demand for domestic iron ore is not optimistic and will be down from last year. China's iron ore imports this year will also be reduced.