Energy Chart Pack Geopolitics and OPEC dominate oil prices Geopolitical tensions were the main driver of oil prices in the first half of the month as the US fired missiles at Syria and ramped up rhetoric around North Korea. However, the market quickly... 5th May 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Chart Pack Investor sentiment sours The prices of both industrial and precious metals suffered last month from waning investor optimism about the outlook for demand. Indeed, concerns appeared justified as China’s manufacturing PMI... 3rd May 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Chart Pack A bumpy ride for commodities The prices of many commodities had a volatile month, led by the price of oil which is being buffeted by a lack of clarity on future supply. Industrial metals prices fell sharply on renewed concerns... 2nd May 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Chart Pack Volatility returns to oil prices Oil prices broke out of the relatively narrow trading range they had been in for the last few months at the start of March as investors became concerned about the effectiveness of OPEC’s deal to cut... 5th April 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Chart Pack Metals prices still holding on There were some signs of fading investor enthusiasm for industrial metals last month. Although January-February economic data out of China were encouraging, the shift in timing of the Lunar New Year... 5th April 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Chart Pack A month of two halves After a weak start to the month, the prices of both gold and oil subsequently rebounded, despite the Fed’s decision to hike interest rates. The accompanying dovish statement lowered expectations of... 3rd April 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Chart Pack Gas and coal prices fall but oil prices remain stable Oil prices were remarkably quiet in February. Indeed, the price of Brent moved by less than $2 per barrel during the month, but prices have fallen so far in March. February proved to be a more... 9th March 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Chart Pack Metals prices consolidate at a higher level The prices of some industrial metals eased back in February, but the bigger picture is that they broadly held on to the gains made in January. A combination of optimism about demand, notably in the US... 3rd March 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Chart Pack Commodities hold on to their gains, despite uncertainty Most commodity prices traded in a narrow range last month, in the absence of clarity on developments in China (owing to the Lunar New Year Holiday) and on US policy direction. That said, the price of... 1st March 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Chart Pack Metals prices start the year on a strong note The prices of most metals rose last month (see Chart), buoyed by ongoing investor buying and expectations of strong demand in China and the US. The decision by the Fed to keep rates on hold in January... 3rd February 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Chart Pack Oil prices have a quiet start to 2017 After finishing 2016 on a high, oil prices were relatively stable in January as investors were waiting to see whether OPEC is complying with its deal to cut output. Elsewhere, a jump in economic... 2nd February 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Chart Pack Commodities keep their cool Commodity prices were remarkably stable in January, considering the flurry of executive orders by the new US president, Donald Trump. Data showing that China ended 2016 on a strong note was a key... 1st February 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Chart Pack Energy commodities bounce back Oil prices finished 2016 on a high as OPEC and some major non-OPEC producers agreed to cut production in the first half of this year. However, prices have already eased back in the first few days of... 5th January 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Chart Pack Metals prices come off the boil in December The prices of most metals rose last year, but industrial metals substantially outperformed precious. While we had always been positive on the outlook for metals in 2016, even we were surprised by the... 5th January 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Chart Pack Oil price rally fails to lift wider sentiment The prices of many commodities slipped back in December, despite the rise in the oil price and encouraging economic data out of China. While the falls in industrial metals may have been the result of... 3rd January 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Chart Pack OPEC takes centre stage OPEC’s confirmation that it would cut production next year in an attempt to reduce the surplus in the market caused oil prices to surge at the end of November. The surprise victory for Donald Trump in... 8th December 2016 · 1 min read
