Focus turns to futures trading as commodities surge

BEIJING - Persistently high international commodity prices have increased the Chinese government's concern about surging inflation, and financial experts advised taking better advantage of commodity futures to hedge risks.

Shang Fulin, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, urged tightening supervision of futures investors and limit speculation. Futures companies should improve their operating abilities by increasing investments and accelerating mergers and acquisitions, Shang said.

Along with the growing demand for food and raw materials, international commodity prices will continue to increase in 2011 amid the sluggish recovery of the global economy, a JPMorgan Chase & Co report predicted. It said surging food and energy costs will further increase inflationary pressures on emerging economies.