Despite the S&P 500 Index being down nearly 12% so far in 2008, investors looking to remain long with their position in the current market should look no further than the agricultural industry. The returns for the month of June alone have shown tremendous strength. An article from The Street identifies six ETNs that have not only gained more than 11% so far this year but more than 10% in June. The two newest ETNs, introduced this past February, are known as ELEMENTS MLCX Grains Index Total Return ETN (GRU) and Opta LB Commodity Index Pure Beta ETN (EOH). GRU tracks an index with various commodities such as corn, soybeans, soy meals and wheat, while EOH focuses on commodities like coffee, sugar, cocoa, and various grains. Both of these relatively new ETNs produced the leading returns for the month with more than 17% growth each. One other ETN from the industry was able to reach an increase of 17% in June, noted Richard Widows of The Street. This ETN is known as iPath DJ AIG Grains Total Return ETN (JJG) and concentrates on grains.

Of the six mentioned agriculture ETNs, PowerShares DB Agriculture Fund (DBA) is considered the oldest, with an inception of January 2007. DBA has a grade of A+ from The Street and returned more than 15% for the month. DBA is made up of corn, wheat, soybeans, and sugar commodities. The last two ETNs, iPath DJ AIG Agriculture Total Return Sub-Index ETN (JJA) and ELEMENTS RIC Index Agriculture Total Return Trust (RJA), grew in June by 14.96% and 10.46%, respectively.

The ETF and ETN industry leading NYSE Arca exchange is the platform for eleven new iPath brand ETNs from Barclays Global Investors. Of the eleven new ETNs, most notable is the iPath Global Carbon ETN (GRN). Business Wire explains that GRN is the first ETN to track the global price of carbon and is linked to the Barclays Capital Global Carbon Index Total Return. The remaining ten ETNs, just listed on the NYSE, provide exposure to the Dow Jones AIG Commodity Index Total Return. The Business Wire press release identifies these commodity related notes as:

1. iPath Dow Jones-AIG Tin Total Return Sub-Index ETN (JJT)

2. iPath Dow Jones-AIG Sugar Total Return Sub-Index ETN (SGG)

3. iPath Dow Jones-AIG Softs Total Return Sub-Index ETN (JJS)

4. iPath Dow Jones-AIG Precious Metals Total Return Sub-Index ETN (JJP)

5. iPath Dow Jones-AIG Platinum ETN Total Return Sub-Index (PGM)

6. iPath Dow Jones-AIG Lead ETN Total Return Sub-Index (LD)

7. iPath Dow Jones-AIG Cotton Total Return Sub-Index ETN (BAL)

8. iPath Dow Jones-AIG Coffee Total Return Sub-Index ETN (JO)

9. iPath Dow Jones-AIG Cocoa Total Return Sub-Index ETN (NIB)

10. iPath Dow Jones-AIG Aluminum Total Return Sub-Index ETN (JJU)