Euro crisis strengthens dollar, lowers US commodity pricesEuro crisis strengthens dollar, lowers US commodity prices

For the past six years, a perfect storm of macroeconomic factors — a weaker dollar, strong global demand and booming ethanol output — all combined to create one of the biggest commodity bull markets in history. Now, however, some of those factors are reversing, with the euro crisis threatening to sink global economic recovery. 


Of the euro zone’s 17 members, eight are in recession. And, depending on the outcome of Greece’s June 17 elections, that country could exit the euro altogether. By doing so, Greece could pay off its debt with essentially worthless drachmas and default on as much as 75 percent of its euro loans. That possibility has sent cash flowing out of the euro and into the U.S. dollar. A stronger dollar means that commodities...