Don't buy a precious metals fund as an alternative as most own gold and gold mining stocks which we've been negative on for many moons. (maxfunds.com)
Kind of like the gold / precious metal funds, where you invest in a mutual fund that invests in a tangible asset. (yourPFpro.com)
The PowerShares DB Base Metals Fund (DBB)-- which holds futures on copper, aluminum and zinc — now has a gain of more than 33 % for the year. (etf.com)