OPEC Watch Nigeria and Libya push OPEC’s output higher Another rise in OPEC’s oil output in October underlines how difficult it will be for the group to agree on meaningful cuts at the end of the month, especially as US oil production is also rising. In... 11th November 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Watch Cocoa prices to struggle on improved supply The recent slump in the US dollar price of cocoa reflects the widespread view that output is going to bounce back in 2016/17. In this Commodities Watch, we analyse the outlook for demand and supply of... 8th November 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Would an OPEC production cut make a difference? The prospect of the first OPEC production cut since 2009 has sent oil prices back above $50 per barrel, although they have slipped a bit recently as the potential deal shows signs of unravelling... 27th October 2016 · 1 min read
Metals Watch What would a Trump victory mean for metals prices? We don’t pretend to know how the political race in the US will develop or who will eventually win the presidency, but in this Metals Watch we aim to shed some light on the potential impact on metals... 12th October 2016 · 1 min read
OPEC Watch OPEC production ramps up as Nigeria and Libya return OPEC production rose in September as Libya and Nigeria ramped up exports. Saudi Arabia’s output did fall, but this is likely to be a seasonal effect rather than a policy shift. 12th October 2016 · 1 min read
OPEC Watch OPEC deal not a game-changer for oil markets Last night’s surprise OPEC announcement that it will limit output caused prices to surge. But the lack of details, OPEC’s poor record of compliance with its own quotas and the potential for shale... 29th September 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Watch Bulging stocks to weigh on the prices of grains & soybeans Supply of the main grains and soybeans looks set to rise in 2016/17, after adverse weather –notably in Latin America – dented harvests in 2015/16. That said, many analysts suspect that the United... 19th September 2016 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Oversupply to weigh on the price of iron ore Iron ore prices have been on a bit of a rollercoaster this year, rising on waves of optimism about China’s demand, before slipping back on persistent growth in supply. In this Metals Watch, we argue... 14th September 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Watch OPEC’s past form points to disappointment in Algiers Speculation about a potential deal to freeze output at the unofficial OPEC meeting at the end of September has been largely responsible for the increase in oil prices over the past month. This Energy... 13th September 2016 · 1 min read
OPEC Watch OPEC pushes back market rebalancing OPEC production remained at near-record highs in August. What’s more, the group revised up its estimate of non-OPEC output for both this year and next. 12th September 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Watch Coffee prices perking up The prices of both robusta and arabica coffee are now at close to 18-month highs, as a result of weather-related crop damage, concerns about future supply and falling export volumes. However, if... 7th September 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Watch What does the rest of the year hold in store for oil prices? Oil prices are now back at around $50 per barrel (for Brent) but they have been volatile over the last few months. Speculation about a deal to freeze output, high stocks and outages in production have... 25th August 2016 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Western investors to drive gold prices higher Despite subdued buying from key consumers – China and India – demand for gold had a strong first half of the year. Indeed, renewed interest from Western investors more than offset continued weakness... 18th August 2016 · 1 min read
OPEC Watch OPEC production reaches another new record OPEC production reached a new record in July with the Gulf members showing no signs of wanting to limit output. What’s more, the group revised down their estimate of how much non-OPEC output should... 10th August 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Watch Have sugar prices hit a sweet spot? The price of sugar in US dollar terms has soared, rising by nearly 30% since the start of the year, on reports of poor harvests and falling stocks. However, the upward pressure on prices from... 4th August 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Glut of oil products to weigh on demand for crude The tightening of the oil market since the start of the year has been the main driver of the price rally over the last few months. However, there are valid concerns that stocks of oil products are... 21st July 2016 · 1 min read
