From Forbes:

The credit and liquidity droughts of 2008 and early 2009 merely interrupted the grander narrative of the global economy--the building of infrastructures throughout the world and the demand for commodities that goes along with that.

Raw materials prices are on the rise. The Rogers International Commodity Index, which represents the value of a basket of commodities consumed globally, has gained nearly 10% since the beginning of the year, compared with the S&P 500 which has only added 2.8% in the same period -- prompting some analysts to call a bottom on commodities prices and leading others to proclaim that an economic rebound is imminent.

Copper, a trustworthy barometer of industrial needs, has been one of the year's biggest gainers. The handy metal is used in everything from electricity and infrastructure to computers and water pipes; its steady rise typically heralds an economic turnaround.

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