Commodities Chart Pack A positive month for commodities Encouraging Chinese economic data and the Fed’s decision to leave interest rates on hold boosted the prices of most commodities last month. That said, gold traded in a narrow range, perhaps starting... 3rd October 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly OPEC’s surprise deal lacks substance The price of oil surged this week in response to the announcement that OPEC members had reached a deal to curb output. However, we are sceptical that this new deal will lead to lower oil supply, not... 30th September 2016 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response GDP by Industry (Jul. 16) The bigger than expected 0.5% m/m gain in July GDP means that the Bank of Canada’s forecast of a 3.5% annualised increase for the third quarter as a whole now looks well within reach. However, it is... 30th September 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI (Sep.) & Unemployment (Aug.) Headline inflation in the euro-zone has started to pick up as the effects of previous falls in energy prices fade. But with a large amount of slack in the labour market, underlying price pressures... 30th September 2016 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi Arabia: first thoughts on the implications of the OPEC deal Last night’s OPEC deal to cut output is short on details, although our sense is that it’s unlikely to be a game-changer for Saudi Arabia, even if it shoulders most of the burden of the fall in... 29th September 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
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report (28th Sep. 16) US crude oil stocks fell last week as net imports and domestic production fell. However, gasoline stocks rose – despite lower refinery output – as demand weakened. 28th September 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update How much of a concern are Russia’s public finances? The fall in oil prices has caused a considerable deterioration in Russia’s budget position, forcing the government to dip into its oil reserves. In this Update, we answer six key questions on the... 28th September 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Algiers unlikely to be a game-changer For the most part, commodity prices have risen this week, boosted by some weakness in the US dollar. The Fed's decision on Wednesday to keep interest rates on hold weighed on the US currency. That... 23rd September 2016 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Saudi Arabia likely to stick with fiscal austerity There have been signs in recent weeks that the sharp slowdown in the Saudi economy caused by fiscal austerity may have prompted the authorities to look at alternative solutions to deal with the... 22nd September 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Update What to make of promises of more output from Libya and Nigeria Planned increases in output from Libya and Nigeria makes it even less likely that major oil producers will agree an output freeze next week in Algeria. But the output gains will have to be sustained... 22nd September 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report (21st Sep. 16) US crude oil stocks fell sharply last week. However, imports and production rose whilst demand from refineries slipped back. Gasoline stocks also declined as demand jumped and output from refineries... 21st September 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Dollar strength weighs on sentiment A stronger dollar, a reduction in risk appetite and a scaling back of expectations that oil producers will actually limit output made it a tough month for most commodities. However, the price of gold... 20th September 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Domestic factors unlikely to cause rupee slump The rupee has been stable against the US dollar in recent months. Looking ahead, suggestions that domestic factors, including calls from within government for a devaluation of the currency and the RBI... 20th September 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Attention to return to the Fed The price of oil has taken a hit this week as hopes faded of an OPEC-led agreement between producers to freeze output. However, other industrial commodities performed somewhat better, buoyed by the... 16th September 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Update Spare oil production capacity ample for now We think that concerns about the lack of spare capacity in the oil market are overdone as supply is already ample and stocks are high. However, as the market tightens over the next few years, low... 15th September 2016 · 1 min read