Energy Outlook Headwinds building for oil and coal prices Energy prices have generally risen over the past few months, despite an appreciating dollar. Strong demand and, in the case of oil, fears about disruptions to supply have boosted prices. However, we... 31st July 2018 · 1 min read
Commodities Outlook Trade woes to continue to weigh on prices Concerns about a possible downturn in demand are expected to remain a factor weighing on most commodity prices in the coming months. There are now clear signs that China’s economy has entered a softer... 30th July 2018 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Mining boost to economic growth no flash in the pan Unlike the pre-tariff spike in soybean exports, the near-100% annualised surge in mining structures investment in the second quarter, which accounted for 0.4% points of the 4.1% annualised gain in... 30th July 2018 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Reprieve for commodities may prove short-lived Commodity prices rebounded a little this week as the EU and US agreed to hold off on any additional tariffs while trade negotiations are underway. However, prices may struggle to hold on to these... 27th July 2018 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update What is behind rhodium's outperformance? The price of rhodium has so far been insulated from deteriorating investor sentiment towards platinum group metals (PGMs) more generally. While rhodium is still likely to outperform its sister metals... 27th July 2018 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economic Outlook Regional growth set to slow further We expect GDP growth across Emerging Europe to slow by more than most expect over 2019-20 and monetary policy is set to be tightened further than is priced into markets. The important exception to... 26th July 2018 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response Global Steel Production (Jun.) World Steel Association (WSA) data showed a 5.8% y/y increase in global steel production in June, driven by higher output in China, India and Japan. We expect this trend to continue over the coming... 26th July 2018 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly Markets weather US-Iran tensions, Egypt seeks oil hedge Financial markets across the MENA region have shrugged off the latest escalation of tensions between the US and Iran, although we doubt that this resilience will last. Meanwhile, news that Egypt will... 26th July 2018 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response China and India Gold Imports (Jun.) The latest trade data for India and China show divergent trends in imports of gold by the two largest consumers. China’s gold imports continued to soar on the back of strong wholesale consumption... 26th July 2018 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report Inventories of crude oil plunged last week due to a slump in net imports. Overall production was steady, but output in the shale regions continued to rise despite logistical constraints, which is... 25th July 2018 · 1 min read
Frontier Markets Wrap Weak balance sheets come into focus Market concerns over fragile balance sheets have forced policymakers in a number of frontier economies to take action over the past month. Strains in the balance of payments prompted the authorities... 25th July 2018 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Strong oil production masking weakness elsewhere The economy appears to have had a stellar month in May, with a potential monthly gain in GDP of almost 1% implying that growth over the second quarter as a whole was close to 3% in annualised terms... 20th July 2018 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Trade tensions likely to continue to weigh on prices There were further falls in most commodity prices this week as concerns about the negative impact on demand of heightened protectionism dampened investor sentiment. With Donald Trump threatening that... 20th July 2018 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response Global Aluminium Production (Jun.) Global aluminium output was down by nearly 3% y/y in June, owing to lower Chinese production and outages in Canada and Brazil. We think that supply will pick up in the third quarter – ahead of China’s... 20th July 2018 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Regional recovery gathering steam The raft of quarterly GDP data released over the past month confirmed that the MENA region rebounded at the start of this year and more timely figures suggest that the recovery is gathering momentum... 19th July 2018 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly Drop in oil prices keeps Bahrain in the spotlight The recent tumble in oil prices has raised the pressure on Bahrain to secure financial support from the rest of the Gulf and for the government to outline its fiscal consolidation plans. We still... 19th July 2018 · 1 min read
