Commodities Update Don’t read too much into the collapse in the BDI Disruption to China’s commodity imports, owing to the outbreak of coronavirus, has sent the Baltic Dry Index into freefall. While freight rates should recover as and when China’s industrial activity... 17th February 2020 · 2 mins read
Commodities Weekly Sense of calm may not last The prices of most industrial commodity prices rose this week on hopes that the coronavirus is near to its peak and that economic activity in Asia will start to pick up soon. The announcement of... 14th February 2020 · 7 mins read
Energy Update LNG prices to remain in the doldrums LNG prices should recover from their current coronavirus-related lows by end-year. But given the significant oversupply in the market, prices are likely to remain historically weak. 13th February 2020 · 2 mins read
Commodities Weekly Virus to remain the main driver of prices Having plunged a week earlier, commodity prices stabilised a little towards the end of this week. That said, until we have a clearer steer on the scale and duration of the coronavirus, it is difficult... 7th February 2020 · 7 mins read
Metals Chart Pack Hoping for some better times ahead Signs of a recovery in industrial commodity demand were emerging at the beginning of 2020. Indeed, the economic data have improved and investor concern surrounding the US-China trade war has eased... 6th February 2020 · 7 mins read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report US crude stocks rose again last week in line with the seasonal norm. While small falls in US product stocks suggest demand is holding up, it would take a surge in US consumption to even go some of the... 5th February 2020 · 2 mins read
Energy Chart Pack Coronavirus to keep prices low in Q1 Energy prices slumped in January owing to concerns about the hit to demand from the coronavirus outbreak. The evolution of the epidemic over the coming weeks will determine how lasting its impact will... 5th February 2020 · 6 mins read
Metals Outlook Recovery still base case, but coronavirus big risk A sharp decline in China’s economic growth in Q1 as a result of the coronavirus outbreak now seems certain. This will be a significant negative for metals demand, as China is the world’s single... 5th February 2020 · 18 mins read
Commodities Chart Pack Virus fears to drive prices for some time yet Commodity prices, and energy prices in particular, have been hard hit by the outbreak of coronavirus in China and the prospect of lower global commodities demand. There is still too much uncertainty... 4th February 2020 · 7 mins read
Commodities Weekly Coronavirus continues to plague commodities Commodity prices lost ground last week, as the rapid spread of the Wuhan coronavirus has dented China’s near-term growth prospects. Indeed, both oil and base metals prices have fallen 10% from their... 31st January 2020 · 7 mins read
Energy Outlook Oil to outperform Provided that the coronavirus is contained, a gradual pick-up in global economic growth at a time of constrained supply should set the scene for higher oil prices in 2020. In contrast, we expect the... 30th January 2020 · 17 mins read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report US crude stocks rose last week owing in large part to lower refinery activity. Crude stocks may remain high for some time in light of high gasoline inventories, but we expect them to ease back later... 29th January 2020 · 2 mins read
Commodities Outlook Cautiously optimistic A gradual rebound in global economic growth and, in many cases, constrained supply mean that we are broadly positive on the outlook for most commodity prices in 2020-21. One exception is the price of... 27th January 2020 · 25 mins read
Commodities Weekly Coronavirus highlights fragility of price recovery Fears that the outbreak of a new coronavirus in China could dent demand hit industrial commodity prices hard this week, erasing almost all year-to-date gains. We don’t pretend to be experts on public... 24th January 2020 · 7 mins read
Commodities Weekly Wait and see … The lukewarm market reaction to the signing of the Phase One trade deal between the US and China lends weight to our view that an agreement had already been priced by commodities markets. For our part... 17th January 2020 · 7 mins read
Commodities Update Phase One deal no bonanza for commodities There has been a muted response in commodities markets to the signing of the Phase One trade deal between the US and China, perhaps because the good news was already priced in. That said, it may also... 16th January 2020 · 3 mins read