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How to invest in a tough new era for commodities

The highlights of our recent seminar on investing in commodities
March 18, 2014

The so-called commodities supercycle may have come to an end, but super returns are still on offer from natural resources equities with the help of superior stock-picking techniques. In our private investor seminar, we discussed which commodities are likely to perform best during this difficult time for the sector and how to exploit this when picking shares. We disclosed our top picks in oil and gas and mining, as well as assessing the fundamental supply and demand factors behind various commodities.

Please read the presentation slides taken from our speakers at the seminar to see what was discussed on the day. Please note that our editorial speaker presentations are password protected so that our paying delegates have priority. All of the presentations will be made available to everyone in one month’s time.

Welcome: key trends, themes and opportunities

Investors Chronicle, John Hughman, Editor, Investors Chronicle

John Hughman joined Investors Chronicle in 2008 as Associate Editor, with a focus on technology and consumer stocks. Since then he's launched the magazine's award-winning blog, the Chronic Investor, and led the development of mobile products before becoming Editor in 2012.

Hurricane: Basement Reservoir Specialists

Keith Kirby, Chief Administrative Officer, Hurricane Energy

Keith Kirby is Chief Administrative Officer of Hurricane Energy plc, which specialises in the discovery, appraisal and development of oil from naturally fractured basement reservoirs. An experienced business manager, prior to joining Hurricane in 2011, Mr Kirby spent 10 years with Hutchison Whampoa as CEO of a Group business unit and profit centre, providing management consultancy and advising on marketing and strategic communications to both Group and external companies around the world. As Hurricane’s Chief Administrative Officer, he is responsible for general management of the Company, communications, investor relations, company systems and facilities, HR and the other administrative aspects of running the business, along with leadership of certain key corporate level activity, including the recent IPO process. Mr Kirby has an MBA with distinction from London Business School where he was winner of the Alumni prize for Academic Achievement. He has previously been an adviser to Kuwait Petroleum International in Europe and to Emarat, the national oil company of the UAE.

Unlocking the value of African iron ore

Ousmane Kane, CEO, International Mining & Infrastructure

Ousmane Kane has a wealth of experience in leading Mauritanian and pan-African public institutions. Prior to joining IMIC, Mr Kane was a Senior Adviser to Mauritania’s Head of State and a Vice President of the African Development Bank. He served as Minister of Finance, Governor of the Central Bank of Mauritania and was Director General of Mauritania’s state-owned iron ore company and Africa’s second-largest iron ore exporter, Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (“SNIM”) where he successfully implemented a US$1bn modernisation project. He was largely involved in the West and Central African iron ore sector while serving as Vice Chairman of African Iron Ore Group (“AIOG”), as a Non-Executive Director of TSX-V and AIM-listed Afferro Mining Inc. Mr Kane is a qualified engineer and a graduate of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Etienne (France) and the Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau (France).

Commodities and your portfolio

Dominic Picarda, Editor, IC Market Tactics

Dominic Picarda is Associate Editor of the Investors Chronicle, where he heads up coverage of tactical asset allocation. He is a CFA charterholder and also holds the Chartered Market Technician qualification.

Atlantis Resources: The world’s leading tidal power developer

Tim Cornelius, CEO, Atlantis Resources

Tim Cornelius worked in the subsea, offshore construction and oil and gas sectors with Submarine

Escape and Rescue Service (Australia), Subsea Offshore, Halliburton Subsea and Subsea7, before taking the role of CEO of Atlantis in 2006. He remains a fully-certified submersible engineer and subsea ROV pilot and has experience in the power generation and shipping sectors.

Paper & Paydirt: Profitable strategies for investing in natural resource shares in 2014

Matthew Allan, Investment Writer – Commodities, Investors Chronicle

Matthew Allan is a financial journalist who has specialised in the natural resources sector for the past four years. He completed a degree in Economics from Queen’s University in Canada before joining Stockwatch in 2009 as an investigative reporter covering junior gold explorers. Mr Allan then worked for The Northern Miner, where he gained further knowledge about mining and geology, and later moved to the UK where he joined the Investors Chronicle in May 2012.