Long-term commodities prices are braced for a wave of investments as two leading banks launch indices that will make it easier for investors to access this increasingly popular asset class.

Institutional investors, such as pension funds, have until now concentrated their commodities investments at the front of the futures curve. However, the vehicles, launched separately by BNP Paribas and JPMorgan will allow investors to place bets on indices of commodities futures as far as three years ahead.