Metals Watch Are industrial metals oversold? We had always expected metals prices to decline this year on the back of a slowdown in China’s economy. However, even we have been surprised by the scale of the falls in prices, which we think have... 12th September 2018 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Is the sell-off in industrial metals overdone? Trade tensions between the US and China have escalated further in recent weeks, prompting sharp declines in the prices of industrial metals. In this Metals Watch we look at the reasons why metals... 13th July 2018 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Has gold lost its safe-haven status? Tensions between the US and China have escalated over the past few days, with both countries announcing hefty tariffs. Yet, the price of gold fell on the news. In this Metals Watch we first look at... 19th June 2018 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Rally in US steel prices to prove self-defeating President Trump’s decision to impose a 25% tariff on US steel imports has sent the price of US hot-rolled coiled steel skyrocketing. But how sustainable is the rally in prices? In this Metals Watch we... 31st May 2018 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Safe-haven demand gives a boost to gold prices Despite the prospect of tighter monetary policy in the US, the price of gold has proved particularly resilient so far this year. We think that strong safe-haven demand on the back of heightened... 30th April 2018 · 1 min read
Metals Watch How could rising protectionism affect metals markets? Trade protectionism has escalated dramatically since the start of the year and threatens to turn into a full-blown trade war. In this Metals Watch, we look at the most recent developments on trade and... 10th April 2018 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Nickel: no shortage in sight Strong growth in China’s stainless steel output and supply disruptions have buoyed nickel prices so far this year. In this Metals Watch, we take a look at the most recent developments in both demand... 6th March 2018 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Prospects for iron ore remain grim The price of iron ore has been remarkably stable recently despite a slump in Chinese steel prices. In this Metals Watch, we make the case that the market is factoring in too much optimism about demand... 16th February 2018 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Have we got too excited about EVs? Electric vehicle sales have skyrocketed over the past few years. As a result, the sector has become a growing source of demand for metals. In this Metals Watch, we look at the latest trends in... 11th January 2018 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Copper supply not a problem, for now There has been much chatter about an imminent tightening in the copper market, partly as a result of a shortfall in supply but also because of strong demand growth associated with the green economy... 5th December 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Zinc to lose its zing in 2018 Since the start of 2016, zinc has doubled in price. A combination of mine closures (owing to depletion), production cuts and solid demand have been the key drivers of the rally. But speculative... 31st October 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Watch What are auto sales telling us about metals demand? Vehicles are a growing source of demand for metals, including platinum group metals (PGMs), zinc, aluminium, steel, nickel and copper. In this Metals Watch we look at the latest trends in global auto... 6th October 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Tightness in tin to persist Electronics and the electrical sector used to account for around half of total tin usage. But tin is finding new sources of demand in the green economy and in the transport and chemical sectors. In... 30th August 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Cheers for silver on hold Despite relatively strong demand from industrial applications and dwindling mine supply, the price of silver has recently fallen to the lowest level since April 2016. In this Metals Watch, we look at... 14th July 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Copper price to struggle The price of copper has been trading in a fairly narrow range in the last few weeks, but is still significantly higher than at the start of 2016. In this Metals Watch, we discuss the main drivers of... 26th June 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Watch As good as it gets for Chinese steel Chinese steel prices have been on a roller-coaster since the start of this year, as investor sentiment on the outlook for demand waxed and waned. In this Metals Watch, we take an in-depth look at the... 30th May 2017 · 1 min read
