Barclays survey backs commodity growth

A market consensus has developed supporting the view that the commodity market is becoming increasingly mainstream, according to data collected at Barclays Capital's commodity conference in Barcelona last month. According to the bank's figures, commodity investments grew from just $5bn in 1999 to $80bn last year, of which between $30 and $40 was invested by hedge funds.

Although 50% of the survey's 200 institutional investor respondents said they did not have any allocation to...