Global commodity AUM at $170 bn in January: Barclays

Total global commodity assets under management (AUM) rose to $170 billion in January from $160 billion in December, Barclays said on Friday. The AUM for precious metals had the maximum share with $81 billion, and energy had $43 billion.

The total investment flows into commodities was $13.9 billion in January, with energy garnering the biggest inflows with $5.9 billion, and precious metals witnessing inflows of $3.7 billion.

"2016 has started on a positive note with inflows to oil and gold turning overall flows positive again for the asset class as a whole," the British investment bank said in a note." Investors have been attracted back to commodities due to a perception of cheapness in some, especially oil, while financial market uncertainty and a phase of dollar weakness have boosted interest in gold," the bank said.