Commodities Update Uncertain times ahead Commodity price indices have had another strong month, supported by positive investor sentiment and the rally in the oil price. However, sentiment started to sour more recently on mixed data out of... 14th June 2016 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update How big a boost might “Brexit” provide to gold? There appears to be an increasingly close relationship between the gold price and the chances of the UK voting to leave the European Union, as implied by bookmakers’ odds. This is consistent, of... 10th June 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Update What would “Brexit” mean for commodities? A UK vote to leave the European Union (“ Brexit ”) would presumably have a negative impact on global business and investor confidence. This in turn is likely to undermine the prices of industrial... 9th June 2016 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update Gold rebounds as US real yields hit one-year low The gold price has rallied this week as expectations of a June rate hike by the Fed have been abandoned. However, while we expect that the Fed will resume its tightening later in the year, real... 9th June 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Update Nigerian oil output disruptions are another wildcard for prices It is likely that further disruptions to Nigerian oil output over the next few weeks and months will continue to support oil prices, even as production from Canada returns. 9th June 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update What next for tin? The price of tin has risen since the start of the year in large part owing to temporary bottlenecks. However, we think the price gains will prove sustainable given more long-term constraints on supply... 8th June 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Update Weather forecasts heat up US natural gas prices Forecasts of an abnormally hot summer should continue to see strong demand for electricity supporting US gas prices. But high production and stocks will limit the upside. 8th June 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Update China’s commodity imports holding up well China’s commodity demand remained strong in May. While arbitrage opportunities and stockbuilding may explain some of the strength, it also looks likely that fiscal and monetary stimulus measures are... 8th June 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Update Rally in coal prices likely to be smothered We think that despite the recent optimism that the worst may be over for coal prices, the ongoing structural decline in demand over the next few years will probably lead to a renewed fall in prices. 7th June 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Stocks look comfortable, for now Exchange stocks of most metals have been falling. The exceptions are lead and tin stocks which have jumped recently, from a low starting point. The ease with which stocks of these two metals have been... 6th June 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Latest news from China unsettles commodities Another set of lacklustre China PMI surveys and recent falls in the renminbi against the dollar are weighing on the prices of many commodities again today. China’s economic recovery should still pick... 1st June 2016 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update How low could gold and silver go? If precious metals continue to take their lead from the currency markets and if the US dollar surges in response to a June or July hike from the Fed, then the price of gold could slump to as low as $1... 31st May 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Cobalt prices should benefit from strong demand We have been positive on the outlook for cobalt demand for some time but, if anything, prospects are continuing to improve. Lithium-ion batteries, the majority of which contain cobalt, are rapidly... 31st May 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Update What are the prospects for Latin American oil? Declining output of crude in Latin America is one factor supporting our view that the global oil market will return to balance on a more sustainable basis by the end of 2016. That said, we think it is... 27th May 2016 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update Silver price to benefit from increasing focus on solar Strong growth in the number of solar installations in China and the US should see silver demand from the sector increase by over 20% y/y in 2016. While solar power currently accounts for just a small... 27th May 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Turning bearish on lead demand Back in February we said that we were cautiously positive on lead demand this year and next. While we remain confident about a tighter supply outlook, we now believe that lead’s demand prospects are... 23rd May 2016 · 1 min read