Energy Update Renewed drive for energy efficiency to cap oil demand and prices The fall in oil prices over the last two years may explain why the efficiency of oil use is growing more slowly than before 2014, especially in non-OECD economies. However, government regulation and a... 26th October 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Another weak month for China’s metals imports China’s metals imports remained weak in September as higher prices, supply constraints and stronger domestic output weighed on volumes. 25th October 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update A bright future for cobalt prices We have been positive on the outlook for cobalt prices for some time now but, if anything, prospects are continuing to improve. Ongoing concerns over artisanal mining in the DRC and strong demand from... 25th October 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Chart Pack Commodity prices turning into a tailwind The recent rise in the prices of some key commodity exports will go some way to boosting the national income of both Australia and New Zealand. The surge in the price of coal to a three-and-a-half... 25th October 2016 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Core price pressures remain elevated Much of the focus both before and after the RBI’s decision to cut the repo rate by 25bp (to 6.25%) in early October has been on the sharp fall in headline inflation over the past couple of months. But... 25th October 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Trade Monitor EM exports recover as commodity prices stabilise South Africa’s manufacturing PMI fell dramatically last month. The sharp fall in the measure of future conditions suggests that hopes of a swift improvement in the country’s economic and political... 24th October 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Commodities pause for breath Most commodity prices were little changed this week despite strong activity data from China. Indeed, the only industrial metals to record gains were tin and lead whose prices were buoyed by ongoing... 21st October 2016 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response Global Steel Production (Sep.) World Steel Association (WSA) data, released this afternoon, show a 2% y/y rise in global steel output in September, slightly stronger than the 1.9% y/y growth a month earlier. After a weak start to... 20th October 2016 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response Global Aluminium Production (Sep.) According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), global primary aluminium output rose by 1.2% y/y in September. However, in a reversal of the trend that has prevailed for much of this year... 20th October 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Fed drives a wedge between metals prices The performance of industrial and precious metals prices has diverged in the last month. Industrial metals have benefited from more positive economic data out of China while precious metals have... 20th October 2016 · 1 min read
Global Markets Outlook Will the Fed rock the boat? We expect risky assets to fare well in 2017/18, even as the yields of US Treasury bonds continue toclimb in response to tighter-than-expected Fed policy. We think the stock market in the US will only... 19th October 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report Crude oil and gasoline stocks diverged last week with a large drop in net-imports dragging crude stocks down and a fall in demand helping gasoline inventories build. 19th October 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Industrials looking vulnerable to a turn in sentiment Commodity prices have generally risen in the last month, despite a further appreciation of the US dollar. That said, the likelihood of a US interest rate hike before end-2016 weighed on precious... 19th October 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Outlook Near-term risks largely on the downside The recent more positive tone in commodity markets has been helped by a number of tailwinds that may be about to fade, if not reverse. The boost to Chinese demand from policy stimulus now already... 18th October 2016 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi Arabia to ease pace of austerity in 2017-18 Saudi Arabia’s upcoming international bond issuance and the recent OPEC agreement have put the spotlight back on to the country’s adjustment to low oil prices. One point that is often overlooked is... 18th October 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly US dollar appreciation constrains prices The prices of most industrial commodities fell this week, as the US dollar continued to appreciate. Doubts about whether OPEC’s plans for an output quota will lead to any meaningful cuts to supply... 14th October 2016 · 1 min read