Metals Watch Solid fundamentals should support lead prices By setting a lower mid-point for the renminbi’s trading band the People’s Bank has sparked speculation that it is embarking on a competitive devaluation of the currency in order to shore up exports... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Will central banks continue to buy gold? Central banks have become major buyers of gold, accounting on average for about 10% of total gold demand over the past five years. The primary driver of central banks’ gold buying continues to be... 27th July 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Iran oil production to rebound to previous levels and more The recent deal between Iran and the Wes tmeans that it is now very likely that substantial volumes of oil from Iran will return to the market. (We note that although a final agreement is not... 23rd July 2015 · 1 min read
OPEC Watch OPEC keeps the taps firmly on Last month’s increase in supply from OPEC just adds to the glut of oil already in the market. And even with strong growth in demand over the next year, OPEC still expects the market to be well... 13th July 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Has demand for coal burned out? The use of coal has become increasingly frowned upon in recent years with regions which account for 75% of demand actively trying to move away from the fuel and an increasing number of supranational... 2nd July 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Weakness in PGM prices should prove temporary Expectations of a strong increase in mine supply,coupled with abundant above-ground stocks,have prompted many analysts to revise down theirforecasts for platinum and palladium prices thisyear and... 29th June 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Waiting for zinc ... Tightening supply, as a number of large mines close, is often cited as a key reason why investors and analysts have been positive on the outlook for zinc prices. However, the expected market tightness... 26th June 2015 · 1 min read
OPEC Watch OPEC production boosted by surging Iraqi output Last month’s small increase in supply from OPEC just adds to the glut of oil already in the market and underlines the cartel’s commitment not to cut output just to support prices in the short term. 10th June 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Are low tin prices justified? Base metals prices have struggled since the start of this year, but many have still managed to make modest gains. In contrast, tin prices have fallen. In this Metals & Mining Watch , we discuss the... 29th May 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Silver price to rally as market falls into deficit After several years of declines, we believe 2015 could be a turning point for the silver price. Lower mine supply, coupled with an increase in demand for jewellery and industrial applications, should... 28th May 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Watch OPEC likely to hold fast next week The next meeting of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), on 5 th June, is set to be almost as closely watched as the previous one in November. The recent rebound in oil prices... 27th May 2015 · 1 min read
OPEC Watch OPEC oil output continues to rise Last month’s small increase in supply from OPEC just adds to the glut of oil already in the market. Even though the cartel also raised its demand estimates, supply will still be ample. 13th May 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Watch The “new normal” for Chinese steel There has been much talk about the “new normal” for the Chinese economy, involving slower and more sustainable growth. In this Metals & Mining Watch, we discuss the implications of the “new normal”... 5th May 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Return of Iranian oil unlikely to budge Saudi Arabia The recent deal between Iran and the West means that it is now very likely that substantial volumes of oil from Iran will return to the market. (We do note that although a final deal is not guaranteed... 23rd April 2015 · 1 min read
OPEC Watch OPEC production boosted by record Saudi output Last month’s increase in supply from OPEC just adds to the glut of oil already in the market. And although the cartel has also boosted its demand estimates for this year, global supply should still be... 16th April 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Pain before gain for aluminium prices The aluminium market appears to be undergoing a fundamental shift this year with falling stocks and lower price premiums. The incentive for investors to hold aluminium stocks is waning. In this Metals... 3rd April 2015 · 1 min read
